Four UTA students to attend Republican and Democratic National Conventions .
Four students will
represent UTA on a national level this August when they travel to Florida and
North Carolina. Political science major Jacob Becker, economics senior Curtwin Bismark, public relations
senior Lauren Devoll and political science major Todd
Zelt are expected to attend the Republican and
Democratic National Conventions, as well as seminars conducted by the
Washington Center. Becker and Devoll
will be going to the Republican National Convention in Florida, while Bismark and Zelt will attend the
Democratic National Convention in North Carolina.
“This is a unique
experience, and definitely an advantageous experience,” Bismark
said. “It’s definitely one of those opportunities that could enhance one’s
academic career.”
The students were
selected through a campus-wide application process, after President James Spaniolo received an invitation for students earlier in the
year, said Eric Bolsterli, assistant dean for the
College of Liberal Arts. Applications then went through a committee of judges.
Students had to submit an essay and recommendation letters for the application
and had to have a good GPA, Bolsterli said.
“Generally speaking, if we have students representing UTA, they have to have a
3.0,” he said. “We want the student body represented by people who are good
students.”
After the students
arrive, they will be placed in different areas to learn about the convention.
Both Curtwin and Devoll
said they’ve never been to a national political convention before. Curtwin said he hopes he’ll be placed in an area helping
with media. One of the things he’s doing to help prepare himself is catching up
on current events nationwide and internationally, he said. “If I can have an
understanding of what some of the hot topics are, I can have a deeper
understanding and appreciation for what happens on the floor,” he said.
He said he’s looking
forward to possibly meeting some of the nation’s biggest business and political
leaders. Devoll said she’s looking forward to seeing
the process of how the country works. “This is really the root of it,” she
said. “This is a big celebration.” As a public relations major, she said she
has a different perspective than those who are political science majors going
to the conventions. “Political science is something I’m still trying to figure
out and what direction I should go with it,” she said. “So I’m wondering if
it’s something that will kind of spark that passion or help me look in another
direction.” The students will be missing the first couple of weeks of school, Bolsterli said. Curtwin and Devoll said they both will be working hard to keep up with
what schoolwork they will miss, but they hope to bring knowledge back to their
peers. “Knowledge is the richest thing I feel I can bring back,” Devoll said about politics. “And give that passion to
someone who hasn’t — passion is something that is spreadable. It’s very
contagious.”
The
Shorthorn
received no response by press time from Becker or Zelt
about the trip.
Follow
Shelly on Twitter: @Reporter_Shelly
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