QU Students to Participate in Republican National Convention

Fourteen Quinnipiac University students, including four from Connecticut, traveled to Tampa, Fla. recently for two weeks, cumulating with their attendance at the Republican National Convention this week  

As part of a two-week seminar program, the Quinnipiac students will participate in The Washington Center’s Republican National Convention Academic Seminar. Quinnipiac students will join more than 250 students from across the country and attend guest lectures from prominent political leaders and then volunteer on-site on the convention grounds.

The Connecticut students are Kyle Boucher of Waterbury, Peter Corkery of Milford, Patrick Donnelly of Waterbury and Jeffrey Timberlake of Groton.

“The national convention, an integral part of the U.S. political process, is a piece of preserved history,” said Mike Smith, president of The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars. “The academic seminars teach students about the process, but not from the sidelines. Students learn from within, in the thick of it. We’re grateful to have the support of Quinnipiac and applaud them for making this opportunity a reality for their students.”

Students participating in the seminar spent the first week of the program learning the history of political campaigns, convention planning and procedures and the role of the media. The second half of the program will be spent at the convention this week, participating in field work assignments and attending convention receptions and rallies.

One example of the type of volunteer work the students will be assigned to at the convention is working with the convention’s communication team and assisting with the production of live news coverage at the major networks, writing articles for newspapers like the Dallas Morning News and supporting the logistics of other delegation events and receptions.

Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Fla. is the academic partner of The Washington Center’s Republican National Convention Seminar.

Since 1984, more than 2,500 students from more than 300 academic institutions have attended The Washington Center’s two-week academic seminars at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. To date, the convention seminars remain the only national academic program of their kind and size. 

The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars is an independent, nonprofit organization that serves hundreds of colleges and universities in the United States and other countries by providing selected students challenging opportunities to work and learn in Washington, D.C., for academic credit.

The largest program of its kind, The Washington Center has more than 50,000 alumni who have become leaders in numerous professions and nations around the world. It was established in 1975. For more information visit: www.twc.edu.