Eugene Resnick (University of Virginia, 2010. Age 18)
Eugene is a first generation American studying Government and Anthropology at the University of Virginia. He is an advocate for GLBT rights as well as issues facing minority and low-income communities. At UVA, Eugene is active in the Young Democrats Chapter and serves as the Minority and Women’s Affairs Coordinator.  He is also a Campus Progress student representative and Chairman of the Civil Rights Policy Center at UVA’s Roosevelt Institution, a national student policy think tank.  In 2006, Eugene interned at the Democratic National Committee in New York as a fundraising canvasser. He was also a Campaign Assistant and Youth Representative for the Gifford Miller Campaign for Mayor. He will be spending this summer with the Alliance for Justice.

Jezzette Rivera (North Carolina State University, 2010. Age 18)
Jezzette just completed her first year at North Carolina State University, where she is studying Criminology and Political Science. During high school, Jezzette was an active member of Future for Kids and served as a Religious Education Teacher for children in her community. This past spring, she participated in an Alternative Spring Break trip to El Salvador. She was recently elected as President of Mi Familia, a Hispanic organization at NC State that raises awareness about issues affecting the Latino community. Jezzette was instrumental in helping to plan an annual event that showcased Hispanic diversity in the Raleigh area. Jezzette is interning at the League of United Latin American Citizens this summer.

Marie Rowley (University of Nevada—Las Vegas, 2007. Age 23)
Marie is a pursuing a degree in History from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. She is very interested in issues pertaining to women’s rights and reproductive freedom. In 2006, she served as a PAC and Union Coordinator and Assistant to the Treasurer for Jack Carter’s campaign for Senate in Nevada. In this capacity, she worked with unions on the national, state, and local level to secure endorsements and campaign contributions. She also helped to organize fundraisers and neighborhood canvasses. Marie will be interning at EMILY’s List this summer.

Anjali Shenoy (University of Michigan Law School, 2009. Age 25)
Anjali just completed her first year of law school at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, where she is a representative to the Women’s Law Students Association and a member of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association. She is deeply committed to equalizing access to opportunities within the education system.  After receiving her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Bryn Mawr College, she spent a year in India working for an organization trying to end child labor and universalize education.  This experience reinforced her commitment to working for social justice through education. Anjali also volunteered during college as an Aide to an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia.  She will be working at People for the American Way this summer.

Kyle Simmons (University of North Florida, MPA, 2006 Age 27)
Kyle recently received a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of North Florida.  While at UNF, he worked as the Program Coordinator of the Florida Center for Public and International Policy where he was responsible for coordinating Professional Development Trainings for the City of Jacksonville along with offering race relation trainings.  Kyle also has his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and African-American studies.  He served as a Legislative Aide and Intern for the New York State Assembly, where he developed a strong interest in politics and is interested in examining how politics can impact the national, state and local levels of government.  Currently, Kyle is interning at the Sierra Club.

Rachel Sims (University of Central Florida, 2009. Age 22)
Rachel is a student at the University of Central Florida, where she is majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in Political Science. On campus, she is active in a chapter of Eco-Advocates of Central Florida as well as the Progressive Council.  She is also part of the Students Democratic Society Chapter on her campus. She recently spent a semester in Washington as part of the Greenpeace Organizing Term. This program empowered Rachel with the skills to plan and implement and environmental campaigns. Rachel will be spending the summer as an intern with Greenpeace.

Mary Small (University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 2008. Age 21)
Mary is studying sociology and public policy at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She is very interested in world poverty and sustainable development issues.  She is co-coordinator of the Millennium Village Project and has helped to raise over one million dollars for a small village in Kenya.  She is Co-Chair of the Community Outreach Committee of Students United for Darfur Awareness Now. Mary also serves as the Founder and Chair of Extended Katrina Relief, where she raised money and taught required disaster relief training courses for students interested in helping rebuild the Gulf.  She will be interning at the Bonner Group this summer.

Shanelle Smith (Kent State University, 2007. Age 23)
Shanelle is a recent graduate of Kent State University, where she received a degree in Political Science. She is very passionate about education reform and ending educational disparity within our nation. For the past three years, Shanelle has served as president of the NAACP Chapter at Kent State. In this role, Shanelle helped draft and formulate Kent State’s Anti-Racial Harassment Policy. She also helped lead a group of students to Mississippi in order to help with Katrina relief efforts. Shanelle was also selected as a member of the Columbus Program in Intergovernmental Issues and interned at the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. She will be interning at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities this summer.

Ashlee Tran (Emory University, 2009. Age 19)
Ashlee is a first generation American who is studying Political Science and French at Emory University. She is committed to helping end the gender disparity in global politics. She has worked for the Center for Women at Emory, helping with the Center’s programming, advertising, and outreach. She participated in the Inaugural Peace Camp Initiative in Egypt, a program that promoted global understanding and peace between students from different nations. In 2006, Ashlee volunteered on Ned Lamont’s campaign for Senate.  Recently, Ashlee helped organize and attain community support for a recycling program at Emory that encouraged students to recycle paper and aluminum. She will be interning at EMILY’s List this summer.

Virginia Weihs (Wesleyan University, 2008. Age 21)
Virginia is studying Sociology at Wesleyan University. Originally from Austin, TX, Virginia has a strong interest in environmental issues.  In 2005, she was an intern with the Students Conservation Association at Zion National Park in Utah.  While there, she helped with their environmental education program as well as the restoration of native plant species. She was also part of the League of Conservation Voters’ Environmental Victory Project in Milwaukee, WI during 2004. Currently, she is part of the Environmental Organizers Network and an intern with the Office of Diversity and Achievement at Wesleyan. She will be interning at Food and Water Watch this summer.

Wingchuek Yung (University of Maryland—College Park, 2009. Age 19)
Wingchuek is currently studying International Political Economy and Economics at the University of Maryland-College Park.  She has a strong interest in government and politics and hopes to run for city council someday. Wingchuek’s political experience includes volunteering at the 2004 Republican National Convention. In 2004, she worked as part of the support staff at the World Trade Center Healing Services Center in New York. She has interned for SmithBarney in New York. Currently, she is the Vice President of the Hong Kong and Cantonese Students Association. She will be spending the summer with the Sierra Club.

Gabriel Zacarias (Swarthmore College, 2009. Age 19)
Gabriel is studying Political Science at Swarthmore College. He is a firm believer that we can all be a part of the force that dismantles oppression and injustice in our society. He has a particularly strong commitment to the power of youth and politics. For several years, he has worked for Just Communities at a residential camp that provides youth with the skills they need to dismantle the oppression that surrounds them. Last summer, Gabriel served as the executive co-director of a Future Leaders of America summer camp, a conference promoting Latino youth leadership development. During the conference, he trained workshop presenters and peer facilitators. During 2005 and 2006, he, along with others, helped raise almost $20,000 for a health clinic serving the needy in the Bolivian rainforest. He will be working at the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) this summer.

Mijon Zulu (Williams College, 2008. Age 19)
Mijion is a first generation American who is pursuing a degree in English from Williams College. Growing up in Lesotho, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, New England, and New York, has given Mijon a deep appreciation for and understanding of different cultures. Mijon is a member of the Black Student Union and the Queer Student Union at Williams, where he started a poster campaign for Queer Pride Day that encouraged students to rethink preexisting stereotypes surrounding sexuality. In his free time, he is part of an a cappella group and will serve as a mentor for freshmen in Williams’ Junior Advisor Program. He will be spending this summer at GenderPAC.