Ramapo Student Recognized For Nonpartisan Democratic Engagement Work

MAHWAH, NJ — A Ramapo College student is one of only 175 students nationwide who was just recognized for nonpartisan democratic engagement work.

Senior Nora Rachouh was awarded as part of the 2023 ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll for her work to advance democratic engagement on campus, a college spokesperson said in a release.

Rachouh joins a group of students recognized for voter registration, education and turnout efforts ahead of last year's midterm elections, which — according to NPR — had the second-highest youth voter turnout in the past three decades.

“I am honored to be a part of the ALL IN Honor Roll," Rachouh said.

"I have striven to get my fellow students to recognize the importance of being politically engaged regardless of preferences," she added.

Rachouh, the student manager of Ramapo's Civic and Community Engagement Center, has dedicated herself to empowering her peers to learn about the political process and to vote, Center coordinator Karen Booth said.

“As a nursing major, Nora understands the power of healing and community," Booth said of Rachouh.

In November, the D.C.-based initiative ALL IN recognized Ramapo as a "Most Engaged Campus" for its efforts to promote democratic participation and get out the student vote, Patch reported.

Ramapo's "commitment to forming empowered students of democracy" is what Rachouh loves most about being a student there, she said.

"The (commitment) ignites a flame within you, creating a want for change that promotes the desire to vote," she added. "No matter what major you have or where you are planning to work, being a well-informed, politically engaged adult is for everyone."

Ramapo earned the "most engaged" designation for participation in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, in which the college completed action items to "institutionalize nonpartisan civic learning, political engagement and voter participation on campus."

More than 77% of Ramapo students voted in the 2020 presidential election — 11% higher than the national average and 22% higher than the college's 2016 turnout, Patch reported.

“It is inspiring to see our students engage so meaningfully in efforts in support of the democratic process,” Ramapo president Cindy Jebb said in the previous report.