Great civic leaders are not born, but made. The Civic Scholars Program gives bright young people the mentorship, experience, and know-how to do something truly significant to benefit society.
Robert C. Virgil, MBA ’60, DBA ’67, Trustee Emeritus; Past Chair, Gephardt Institute National Council; Civic Scholars Program Founding Donor
The Gephardt Institute is thrilled to announce the 17 WashU sophomores selected to be part of the Civic Scholars Class of 2023.
The Civic Scholars Program, comprising four semesters of academic course work, combines self-exploration, peer relationship building, and experiential education to lead students to a deeper understanding of themselves and their roles as civic agents. Sophomores are selected through a competitive process and learn together through their junior and senior years. The program includes two years of intensive leadership training, multiple levels of mentorship, and development of civic vision. Coursework is enhanced by a substantive full-time Civic Summer project or experience of the scholar’s own design. Civic Scholars also develop professional skills that will prepare them for significant future civic leadership in a wide range of professions. To date, the Gephardt Institute has supported 121 Civic Scholars who have completed Civic Summer projects in 14 countries and 27 US cities.
Congratulations to the Class of 2023:
- Christian Alexander, a Civic Scholar from Hawthorne, CA, is majoring in mechanical engineering in the McKelvey School of Engineering.
- Kayla Arenschield, a Civic Scholar from Solon, OH, is majoring in English literature and double minoring in religion and politics, and legal studies in the College of Arts & Sciences.
- Annakate Blanks, a Civic Scholar from Greenville, SC, is majoring in international and area studies and minoring in legal studies in the College of Arts & Sciences.
- Otto Brown, a Civic Scholar from Chicago, IL, is double majoring in economics and political science in the College of Arts & Sciences.
- Sarah Buchanan, a Civic Scholar from Hoover, AL, is double majoring in psychology and education in the College of Arts & Sciences.
- Rachel Ding, a Civic Scholar from Vancouver, Canada, is majoring in international and area studies and minoring in East Asian Studies in the College of Arts & Sciences.
- Akshay Govindan, a Civic Scholar from St. Louis, MO, is double majoring in biology: genomics and computational biology and statistics, and minoring in physics in the College of Arts & Sciences.
- Barry Hekanu, a Civic Scholar from Chicago, IL, is double majoring in mathematics and classics and minoring in physics in the College of Arts & Sciences.
- Racquel Hernandez, a Civic Scholar from Oak Park, IL, is double majoring in applied mathematics and educational studies, and minoring in psychology in the College of Arts & Sciences.
- Lexie Jordon, a Civic Scholar from Lincoln, AR, is double majoring in educational studies and American culture studies and minoring in psychology and brain sciences in the College of Arts & Sciences.
- Ruchika Kamojjala, a Civic Scholar from Plymouth, MN, is double majoring in Anthropology: Global Health and Environment in the College of Arts & Sciences and Healthcare Management in the Olin Business School.
- Sarah Narcisse, a Civic Scholar from Long Island, NY, is majoring in urban studies and minoring in biology in the College of Arts & Sciences.
- Kyra Sadat Ruben, a Civic Scholar from St. Louis, MO, is majoring in global studies in the College of Arts & Sciences, and double minoring in environmental studies in the College of Arts & Sciences and art in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts.
- Cameron Thompson, a Civic Scholar from Columbia, MO, is double majoring in International and Area Studies in the College of Arts & Sciences and Communication Design in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts.
- Maya Tsingos, a Civic Scholar from San Francisco, CA, is double majoring in microbiology and anthropology: global health and the environment, and minoring in Chinese language and culture in the College of Arts & Sciences.
- Maurice Wang, a Civic Scholar from Tustin, CA, is majoring in political science in the College of Arts & Sciences and double minoring in women, gender, and sexuality Studies and Asian American studies in the College of Arts & Sciences.
- Diamond Warren-Tucker, a Civic Scholar from Coral Springs, FL, is majoring in dance in the College of Arts & Sciences.
The Civic Scholars Program is made possible generous gifts from John Beuerlein, MBA ’77, and Crystal Beuerlein (in honor of Bob Virgil, MBA ’60, DBA ’67, and Gerry Virgil); Maxine Clark, Trustee, and Bob Fox; Laura Zajac Kleinhandler, AB ’90 and David Kleinhandler; Joseph N. Marcus, MD ’75, and Margaret A. Olsen, Professor of Medicine and Surgery; Matt Seiden, AB ’78, and Wendi Weill; Mickey and Debbie Stern; Bob and Gerry Virgil; and anonymous donors.