While the rest of the country has struggled with "the new normal" posed by the outbreak of COVID-19, rising senior political science major Jake Powell has found ways to adapt.
After completing his Washington Semester Program experience and internship with South Carolina Senator Tim Scott remotely last semester, Powell went on to serve as a representative for the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship's College Student Congress.
The event was originally scheduled as a two-week summer program for undergraduate students like Powell who are interested in public policy, politics, diplomacy and bipartisan political leadership. Instead, this year's College Student Congress had to meet virtually, hosting online webinars via Zoom.
"Participation in the Henry Clay Center's College Student Congress was a wonderful experience, albeit untraditional," said Powell. "While we all would have preferred to meet in person, the online webinars and conferences were informative and engaging. My favorite part of the program was the Henry Clay Center's focus on bipartisanship and civil political dialogue among young people from many different perspectives and ideologies."
In addition this year's virtual setup, the Henry Clay Center is extending acceptance of its 2020 participants to the 2021 College Student Congress next May in Lexington, Kentucky. "COVID-19 has posed several obstacles for students like me," Powell added, "but I wouldn't trade these experiences for anything."