CLP Alumni News

In a statement released yesterday, Governor Kaine appointed a number of Sorensen graduates to boards and commissions. Sorensen continues to play a positive, leading role across the Commonwealth.

Justin M. Wilson of Alexandria, a graduate of the Political Leaders Program Class of 2003, was reappointed to the Board of Juvenile Justice.

Joyce W. Waugh of Roanoke, a member of the Political Leaders Program Class of 2006, was appointed to the Manufacturing Development Commission.

Jeffrey R. Dion of Prince William County, a graduate of the Political Leaders Program Class of 1996, was reappointed to the Criminal Justice Services Board.

Jesse J. Richardson of Montgomery County, a graduate of the Political Leaders Program Class of 1999,  was appointed to the Cave Board.

Ann A. Brown of Williamsburg, a graduate of the Candidate Training Program Class of 2001, was appointed to the Commonwealth Council on Aging.

Lucy Hutchinson, a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2005 has recently joined RJI Capital, an international consulting firm. She will be working with the Government Strategies office in Washington. Congratulations Lucy!

Congratulations to Jarrett Ray, a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2006 and a Junior at James Madison University. Jarrett was recently elected the State Treasurer for the College Republican Federation of Virginia.

Laura Harris, a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2005, has been accepted to the Political Leadership Training Program of the Young Women Leaders Board of the Women & Politics Institute at American University. 

Laura is a graduate student in Public Policy at George Mason University. She also worked as a Program Manager during the Sorensen Institute's Youth Programs this past summer.

Congratulations Laura!

We are proud to announce that Virginians connected with the Sorensen Institute continue to provide leadership at critical positions throughout the Commonwealth. Attorney General Bob McDonnell's new Government and Regulatory Reform Task Force includes Scott Rigell, a graduate of the Political Leaders Program Class of 2005, as well as two members of our State Board: Jacquelyn Stone and Michel Zajur. The Agriculture Working Group on the Task Force also includes Hobey Bauhan, a member of the Political Leadership Program Class of 2006. The Healthcare Working Group includes Delegate Mark Sickles, a graduate of the Political Leaders Program Class of 1998 and the Candidate Training Program Class of 2001.

In other news, Governor Tim Kaine has reappointed Linda Crandell to the Board of Conservation and Recreation. Linda is a graduate of the Political Leaders Program Class of 2005 and was recently re-elected to the Colonial Beach Town Council. Governor Kaine has also reappointed Rockbridge County's Jay Gilliam, a graduate of the Political Leaders Program Class of 2001, to the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for Virginia's Natural Resources.

Congratulations are due College Leaders Program Class of 2006 graduate Lincoln Saunders, who recently started a new job as Political Director for Virginia Senator Creigh Deeds.

Way to go Lincoln!

The Sorensen Institute's Director of Youth Programs, Marc Johnson, also a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2003, was the opening speaker at the Annual Leadership Retreat for the College Republican Federation of Virginia which was held at the University of Virginia this past weekend.

The new Chairman of the CRFV is Andrew Lamar, a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2006. Lamar also spoke to the group and discussed in detail how much he enjoyed his experience at Sorensen this summer.

In other news, Marc Johnson and Lucy Hutchinson, a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2005,  were Volunteer Instructors last week for the International Youth Democracy Summit, jointly sponsored by the Center for Politics, Presidential Classroom and the Jamestown 400 Commission.  This week-long program for high school students from around the world is the kickoff in a series of conferences being sponsored by the Jamestown Commission over the next year.

This just in: College Leaders Program Class of 2006 graduate Brady DeRemer has accepted an internship with the Republican Party of Virginia in the First Congressional District, doing work on Senator George Allen's and Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis' re-election campaigns.  Brady will be assisting both camps for the rest of the summer and then on through the November 7 elections.

Congratulations Brady!

Congratulations to Noeline Arulgnanendran, a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2005. Noeline has just accepted the position of Associate Political Consultant with Dresner, Wickers, and Associates.

Based in San Francisco, Dresner and Wickers is a national Republican consulting firm specializing in strategic communication, survey and focus group research, and media production and placement. Their clients include Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and numerous other Governors, Senators, and elected officials across the country.

Aaron Jennings, a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2005, is profiled in the new edition of the University of Virginia publication Arts and Sciences Online.

The article also discussed the impact of the Sorensen Institute's College Leaders Program, a nationally unique program working in the Jeffersonian tradition to prepare young people for a career in government and politics.

Click here to read the article.