Two SUNY Old Westbury students were recently in Washington D.C. lending their voices and advocating for causes important to higher education. Student Government Association President Jeanette Adelson participated in the AIPAC Policy Conference from March 25-28, 2017, while simultaneously across town, Politics, Economics and Law major Evan Rufrano was an invited member of the SUNY Students on the Hill fellowship on Capitol Hill.
Adelson, a Sociology major and pre-law minor, joined 300 student government presidents from across the United States, and 15,000 community activists, Israeli and American policymakers and thoughtleaders for the organization's annual gathering. She had the opportunity to explore the city, and represent SUNY in the largest of any states' student delegations. The junior was awarded a Marty Geller Scholarship to pay for the trip's expenses.
In partnership with the State University of New York's Office of Federal Relations, Rufrano, a member of the SUNY Student Assembly, was selected as one of 30 fellows to advocate for increased federal support for public higher education so that SUNY and Old Westbury can continue their work delivering high-quality, affordable opportunities to New Yorkers.
Students networked with DC-based SUNY alumni, heard directly from members of Congress, learned how to advocate on Capitol Hill, and met with Congressional offices to speak about the importance of increased access to key student financial aid programs.
"In addition to the panel discussions and keynotes that we participated in, we had an opportunity to speak with representatives from local districts," said Rufrano. "I had the chance to speak with Congressman Lee Zeldin about the importance of federal work study programs, and the economic benefits not only for students and the campus community, but for the external community at-large."
Rufrano was also able to thank Zeldin for his work on the PFC Joseph Dwyer Program, which is a peer-to-peer counseling program for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.