Press Release: Governor Rick Scott today announced the members of the seventh class of the Gubernatorial Fellowship Program. Students participating in the program will gain first-hand experience into how state government operates.
“I applaud these outstanding students for their hard work and commitment to improving our state’s government,†said Governor Scott. “This program provides an excellent opportunity for students to learn about the functions of government and ways to make it more efficient and effective.â€
Students were selected based on a competitive application process and their ability to show strong leadership, written and oral communication skills, community activism, and a desire to serve the people of Florida. They will work in the Executive Office of the Governor or in the Governor’s agencies, depending on their area of study. Fellows will be expected to work a minimum of 20 hours each week and will receive an hourly wage for their time on the job. To broaden the Fellows’ exposure to state government and enhance their experience, they will also meet weekly as a group to participate in educational activities such as presentations, press conferences, budget briefings and policy briefings.
The following 13 students have been selected as the seventh Gubernatorial Fellows class:
Nicole Blanton, 27, of Lake Worth, a third-year law student at Florida State University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from Florida Atlantic University.
Chantelle Carter-Jones, 30, of London, England, graduate student in business administration and management at the University of South Florida. She holds a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Warwick, England.
Matthew Christ, 21, of Santa Rosa Beach, senior in political science at the University of Florida.
Marcus L. Dixon, 22, of Miami, graduate student in public administration at Florida State University. He holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and public relations from the University of Florida.
Clarence “Hal†Houston, 27, of Jacksonville, a third-year law student at the University of Florida. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Florida.
Heather Houston, 26, of Howey-in-the-Hills, graduate student in mass communications, specializing in political communication at the University of Florida. She holds a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications/news from the University of Florida.
Andrew Ketchel, 23, of Fort Walton Beach, graduate student in public administration at the University of South Florida. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of South Florida.
Kristin Klein, 24, of Gainesville, senior in political science and food and resource economics at the University of Florida.
Nicholas Russell, 21, of Tampa, senior in economics and international affairs at Florida State University.
Judson Searcy, 24, of Pensacola, third-year law student at Florida State University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of West Florida.
Theodore “Ted†Stratton, 30, of Melbourne, doctoral student in higher education administration at Florida State University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in social science from Florida State University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from DePaul University in Chicago.
James VanLandingham, 28, of Tallahassee, second-year law student at Florida State University. He holds bachelor’s degrees in journalism and political science from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in public administration from Florida State University.
Lorraine Young, 29, of Frostproof, third-year law student at Florida State University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication arts from Warner University.
The program begins on August 15, 2011 and ends on May 11, 2012. Students are enrolled in classes either at Florida State University or Florida A&M University in Tallahassee or through distance learning courses provided by their home institutions.
For more information and eligibility requirements for the Gubernatorial Fellowship Program, please visit www.floridafellows.com or call the Gubernatorial Fellows office at (850) 410-0230. Applications for the 2012/2013 Gubernatorial Fellows Class will be available online from October 3, 2011, through March 2, 2012.
