CLP Alumni News

Kimberly Bowers, a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2003, has recently joined the Kaine administration as Director of Gubernatorial Appointments for the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Kimberly also worked as a Sorensen Youth Manager during the 2005 season. She is a 2005 graduate of the University of Richmond, where she studied Political Science. Congratulations Kimberly!

BREAKING NEWS: We have just learned that Maggie O'Brien, a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2005, has won a full scholarship to Oxford University for a summer of study in political science from the English Speaking Union.

Maggie is a student at Virginia Commonwealth University where she is studying political science and art. She will graduate in 2008.

Way to go Maggie!

THIS JUST IN: College Leaders Program Class of 2006 graduate Brady DeRemer has accepted a position with the United States Chamber of Commerce in Washington. Brady will be a Research Assistant for the International Business Division. He starts this week!

Brady graduated in December from the University of Mary Washington where he studied Political Science.

Congratulations Brady!

THIS JUST IN from Washington: Katherine Ely, a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2006, has recently joined Media Matters as a Media Relations Associate. Kat is a 2005 graduate of Old Dominion University where she studied Communications and Psychology. She worked most recently as the National Deputy Communications Director for America Votes.

Way to go Kat!

The Sorensen Institute announced today that it has hired three Program Managers to help oversee its College and High School Leaders Programs during the 2007 summer season. The new managers are Shonda Copeland, Martin Mash, and Kimberly McKay. All three are graduates of the Sorensen Institute.

Marc Johnson is the Director of Sorensen's Youth Programs. "We are honored that Shonda, Martin, and Kimberly will be joining us this summer to work with our students. They will each be powerful role models and experienced guides."

The Program Managers play a key role during both the College and High School programs, helping to ensure their success. They will also assist in program planning, marketing, and student recruitment.

Applications to the Sorensen Institute's 2007 Youth Program season are still being accepted. The deadline is February 25. Click here for more information and to apply online.

The 2007 Sorensen Institute Youth Program Mangers:

Shonda A. Copeland of Chesapeake, Virginia, will graduate in May 2007 from Norfolk State University as a Parsons Presidential Scholar with a degree in Political Science. At Norfolk State University, Shonda has served as President of the NAACP, President of the Thurgood Marshall Pre-Law Club, Treasurer of the Pre-Law Club,  and participated in many other campus organizations. Highly active in community service, she has volunteered with the Share Food program, Habitat for Humanity, Big brother Big sister Hampton Roads, and as a peer tutor and mentor in local schools. Also at Norfolk State, Shonda served as the voter registration drive coordinator for the Political Science club. 

She has worked on campaigns on the state and local level, and this spring is interning in the General Assembly for Senator Yvonne B. Miller as part of the Virginia Capitol Semester program through Virginia Commonwealth University. Next on the agenda for Shonda is deciding what law or graduate study is best suited for her talents.

Shonda is a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2006.

Martin Mash of Chilhowie, Virginia, will graduate from Radford University in May 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a minor in English.  Martin currently serves as the student body president at Radford and as the student representative on the Radford University Board of Visitors and as Radford’s representative on the State Council on Higher Education’s Student Advisory Committee. Martin has previously served as a Senator in the Radford Student Government Association, chaired the Student Finance Committee, served on the Radford Presidential Inaugural Committee, and on the University/City Joint Commission.

Martin is a recipient of the Bonnie Hurlburt Student Leader Scholarship and the N. Eggleston Scholarship for University Service. He is a member of Virginia 21’s Steering Committee and has also interned for Congressman Rick Boucher.

Martin is a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2005. He was elected by his classmates to represent them as a keynote graduation speaker.

Kimberly McKay of Charlottesville, Virginia will graduate at the top of her class from Virginia Tech in May 2007 with a double major in History and Political Science. At Virginia Tech, she has served the Greek community for two years as a Panhellenic Executive Officer. In her first year on the Panhellenic Council, she served as the Director of Panhellenic Relations and worked hard to bridge the gap between each of the four Greek governing bodies. In addition, Kim has worked with the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences as a College Ambassador and volunteers in the Dean’s office twice a week.

Throughout her undergraduate career, she has had the opportunity to work with several different community service events, such as Relay for Life, Warm Hearth Bingo, and the Boys and Girls Club. She has been honored as a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Order of Omega.

Kim is a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2006. 

Lauren Stech of Chesapeake, a Senior at Radford University and a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2003, has recently landed an internship with the Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society working with Domestic Violence Cases.

Lauren is active with Virginia 21, Circle K, the Public Relations Society Student Association, the Political Science Society, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Phi Alpha Delta.

Congratulations Lauren!

Brady DeRemer, an alumnus of the College Leaders Program Class of 2006, has completed his studies at Mary Washington University and graduated a semester early. Brady studied Political Science with a concentration in Public Policy. Congratulations Brady!

Congratulations to Michael Sizemore, a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2006. This past week he graduated from Virginia Tech—a semester early and with honors. Michael earned his degree in Political Science with a minor in Urban Affairs and Planning.

Way to go Michael!

Evan Baum, a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2002, has accepted a new position at George Mason University. Baum will be the new Director of Undergraduate Programs for the College of Humanities & Social Science. He will be responsible for coordinating the College’s recruiting, admissions, orientation, first-year experience and leadership programs for the undergraduate departments and special programs, as well as serving as the academic adviser for 50-100 undeclared students within the College. Congratulations Evan!

College Leaders Program Class of 2006 graduate Shonda Copeland will intern next semester with State Senator Yvonne B. Miller of Norfolk.

Shonda is a student at Norfolk State University where she is studying Political Science. She will graduate in the spring of 2007.