CUTLINE: UCA students attending the Presidential Inauguration 2017 Academic Seminar (from left to right) are Riley Tribble, Alex Tatem, Stevie Massey, Zoe Allison, Keely Smith, Laura Craig and Hannah Hanshaw. Also in the photo are Arkansas Tech students Allison Edwards (standing center) and Savannah Dye (kneeling center).
Ten University of Central Arkansas students are attending the Presidential Inauguration 2017 Academic Seminar hosted by the Washington Center. The seminar began on Sunday, Jan. 8 and ends Saturday, Jan. 21. This year’s theme is “Elevating Political Discourse.”
This is the ninth Presidential Inauguration Academic Seminar hosted by the Washington Center. The Inauguration Seminar marks the end the of the Campaign 2016 Seminar Series, of which 300 students also attended the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee conventions. Students were asked to elevate their critical thinking above the noise of the current political discourse and become part of a generation of leaders with the power to pursue bipartisan cooperation.
UCA students attending the Presidential Inauguration 2017 Academic Seminar are as follows:
Rachel “Zoe” Allison–Conway
Laura Craig–Conway
Hannah Hanshaw–Cabot
Stevie Massey–Conway
Keely Smith–Paron
Alexandria Tatem–Benton
Madison Temples–Vilonia
Riley Trible–Blytheville
Clayton Vaught–Austin
Jessica Wilson–McGehee
Students take part in daily interactive programming–including guest lectures, small group discussions and budget/policy simulations. Following programming, students will use the afternoons to meet in groups with faculty leaders, partake in site visits to thought leadership organizations and visit popular Washington D.C. attractions.
“Seminar participants have an opportunity to witness the most important event in our democracy: the peaceful transfer of power,” TWC President Chris Norton said. “I think our conversations during this seminar will have a multiplier effect on participants, who will continue this discourse at their institutions, in their careers and in their communities.”
More than 340 students from dozens of colleges and universities are attending the two-week seminar. Since 1985, thousands of students have attended the Inauguration Seminar. To date, it remains the only national academic program of its kind and size.
