CLP Alumni News

Congratulations to Curtis Walton, an alumnus of the College Leaders Program Class of 2006. Curtis will be serving as a Legislative Intern in the offices of Senator Ken Stolle and Senator Harry Blevins during the 2007 General Assembly session. Curtis is studying Political Science and Economics at Old Dominion University.

LaAndra Jones, a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2006, has accepted a paid position with the City of Elgin, Illinois as a Graduate Intern for the City Manager's Office and the Department of Public Works. LaAndra is a 2006 graduate of Hampton University where she studied Political Science. She is currently at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb earning a Master's Degree in Public Administration with a specialization in Political Leadership and Management.

Chelsea Rock, a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2006, has become the first graduate of a Sorensen Youth Program to be elected to one of our Regional Boards.  Chelsea was elected to the Richmond Regional Board during a meeting this past Wednesday, December 6.

The Board had convened at the offices of Hunton & Williams to host the interviews of Richmond-area applicants to the Political Leaders Program Class of 2007. The Regional Boards provide a critical service in this process, helping to identify emerging leaders in their communities who are ideal candidates for the Sorensen Institute.

Chelsea is a 2006 graduate of the University of Richmond and recently joined Advantus Strategies, LLC. She is also providing leadership in helping to launch the Richmond chapter of Sorensen's new Alumni Association.

In other news, Delegate Chris Peace, a graduate of the Political Leaders Program Class of 2004, was elected Co-Chair of the Richmond Regional Board, where he will serve alongside Chair Whitt Clement.

THIS JUST IN: College Leaders Program Class of 2006 alumnus Jarrett Ray of James Madison University has been elected Chairman of the College Republican Federation of Virginia.

The election took place at the Republican Party of Virginia's Advance held at the Homestead last week.

Jarrett writes, "I am looking forward to helping lead conservative college students across Virginia in the common goals of expanding the conservative presence on campus and electing Republicans to all levels of government.  The CRFV this year hopes to charter new clubs, expand the influence of existing clubs, lobby on behalf of policies brought up at the annual Virginia College Republicans Spring Issues Conference, and run grassroots campaigns to help elect Republicans to the General Assembly in the 2007 elections."

Jarrett  is the former Treasurer of the state-wide organization. He succeeds fellow CLP Class of 2006 graduate Andrew Lamar, who served as Chairman for the past two years.

Congratulations to Steven Jones, a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2004, who recently landed the position of Membership Director at Virginia21.

"This is a fantastic opportunity," Jones told us. "I am honored to be a part of this organization that is doing so much to help engage young people throughout the Commonwealth in public affairs."

Jones graduated from Longwood University this past spring, and worked as a Programs Manager for the Sorensen Institute's College and High School Leaders Programs this summer.

Governor Kaine recently appointed Sorensen graduates to a number of new positions, boards and commissions:

Sindy Benavides, a Fellow with the Political Leaders Program Class of 2006, will serve as the Director of Gubernatorial Appointments for the Secretary of the Commonwealth. She will also continue to serve as Latino Liaison to the Governor.

Kirk J. Havens, a graduate of the Candidate Training Program Class of 2001, was reappointed to the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee to the Chesapeake Executive Council.

Bob Kirby, a Fellow of the Political Leaders Program Class of 1998, was appointed to the Virginia Board for Contractors.

Margaret Vanderhye, a graduate of the Candidate Training Program Class of 2005 and a Fellow with the Political Leaders Program Class of 2006, was appointed to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.

Bryan Collins, a graduate of the Candidate Training Program Class of 2006 and a Fellow with the Political Leaders Program Class of 2006, was appointed to the Disability Services Council.

Vickie Williams (PLP 2005)

Sean O'Brien, Executive Director

Delegate John Cosgrove, State Board member and alumnus (PLP 1998)

Marc Johnson, Director of Youth Programs and alumnus (CLP 2003)

Andrew Almand (CLP 2006)

Carolyn Lincoln (PLP 2001, CTP 2002)
                        

Tim Heaphy (PLP 2005)

A total of five awards were presented at the Sorensen Institute's 2006 Alumni Reunion on Saturday, October 14. The event was held at in the Grand Ballroom at the Jefferson Hotel. The awards were presented by Director of Alumni Relations, Coy Barefoot (other podcasts from the Reunion will be posted to this blog shortly).

The Most Enthusiastic Class Award--which recognizes the alumni class with the highest percentage turnout at the reunion--was given to both the High School Leaders Program Class of 2006 and the Political Leaders Program Class of 2005. The awards were accepted by HSLP 06 Class Chair Ellen Marsteller and PLP 05 Class Chair Cathie France.

Ellen Marsteller

Cathie France

The Most Generous Class Award--which recognizes the alumni class in which the greatest percentage of its members have given a personal donation to the Sorensen Institute during the past year--was presented to the Political Leaders Program Class of 2005. Class Chair Cathie France accepted the award.

PLP Class of 2005

The Most Philanthropic Class Award--which recognizes the alumni class that has generated, both personally and professionally, the greatest financial support for Sorensen during the last year--was given to the Political Leaders Program Class of 2001. Virginia Delegate, Sorensen State Board member, and class member Jennifer McClellan accepted the award.

Jennifer McClellan

The First Annual Service to Sorensen Award recognizes a graduate who has most given of his or her time, talents, and efforts in supporting the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership in the year since the last alumni reunion. This first-ever honor was awarded to Craig T. Fifer, a graduate of the Political Leaders Program Class of 2003.

Craig Fifer

The First Annual Expression of Ideals Award recognizes an alumnus or alumna who has, in the year since the last alumni reunion, best represented the ideals at the heart of the Sorensen mission: a spirit of ethics, bipartisanship, and civic engagement. This first-ever award was presented to the Secretary of Virginia's State Board of Elections, Jean Jensen (Political Leaders Program Class of 1996).

Jean Jensen

This just in from England: Sorensen alumnus Emad Maghsoudi, a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2006, has just wrapped up eight weeks studying British Constitutional Law at Trinity College, University of Oxford. He now begins an internship at the Palace of Westminster: House of Commons with Labour Party MP Anthony D. Wright.

As if this wasn't enough. Emad is simultaneously working on a dissertation about the EU while taking classes at the London School of Economics. All of this amazing work is part of the Hansard Study Programme, of which Emad is a participating scholar.

Emad emails us that he has been showing off his Sorensen pin in London: "Many people here at the Parliament have asked me about it." Spread the good word Emad, and keep up the great work!
 

Graduates of Sorensen's Youth Programs continue to make their marks in Virginia. Andrew Lamar is a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2006 and a Senior at the University of Mary Washington studying Economics and Political Science. He is also the Chairman of the College Republican Federation of Virginia. Last week Virginia's Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling honored Andrew with the Patrick Henry Award for Public Service and Leadership.

The Lieutenant Governor issued this Resolution:
Whereas the distinguished and deserving citizen, Andrew Lamar, Has demonstrated the same unwavering commitment to justice and good government that was embodied by the great revolutionary statesman and first Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Patrick Henry. I do on this day, the THIRD of OCTOBER In the year of our Lord, TWO-THOUSAND and SIX,  Hereby confer upon him the  PATRICK HENRY AWARD  For Steadfast Devotion To The Just And Sound Government Of Our Commonwealth.

Congratulations Andrew!