Secretary Benson banner
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
Oct. 5, 2023
Contact: Cheri Hardmon
(517) 643-7236
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Secretary Benson names 30 young leaders to Michigan Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force?
*LANSING, Mich.* ? Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson today announced that 30 students have been selected to serve on the Michigan Department of State's Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force [ [link removed] ] for the 2024 election cycle. The task force will determine and implement recommendations to improve voter education and engagement among young people on college and university campuses across Michigan.
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"The new members of the Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force represent a strong base of active, informed young voters in our state,? *Secretary Benson said*. ?I?m proud that Michigan led the nation in youth voter turnout in the 2022 election. This group of young leaders will keep up the momentum statewide and provide valuable insights on how to best engage voters on their campus. I look forward to our work together."
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According to a report by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University [ [link removed] ], Michigan voters ages 18-29 turned out at a rate of 37% in the 2022 midterm elections, higher than any other state CIRCLE analyzed, and far higher than the national average youth turnout rate of 23%. Michigan was one of only four states where youth turnout was higher in 2022 than in 2018.
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The Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force, first established by Benson in 2019, brings together students from across the state who are passionate about civic engagement. Task force members serve as liaisons between the Secretary of State?s office, their student body, school administrators, and peers. The group advises on the unique experiences and barriers for student voters, helping to ensure the voices of young people are heard in our state's elections.?
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The appointed students will serve on the task force through December 2024 with optional enrollment in a paid Campus Vote Project [ [link removed] ] Democracy Fellowship, a project of Fair Elections Center [ [link removed] ], a national, nonpartisan voting rights organization.
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The students represent community colleges, colleges, and universities statewide and were chosen from among nearly 125 applicants to represent their institution of higher education:?
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*Abdullah Aljanabi *of Warren - Macomb Community College
*Andrew Durkin *of Troy - Lansing Community College
*Avery Harbison *of Zeeland - Central Michigan University
*Candace Metzger *of Williamston - Michigan State University
*Carson Cooley *of Hillsdale - Central Michigan University
*Cassie Sylvester *of Linden - Mott Community College
*Cheng Kidd Sun *of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Western Michigan University
*Elizabeth Stoecker* of Midland - Delta College
*Ella McKanna *of Rockford - Michigan State University
*Ethan Lehman-Pace* of Clinton Twp. - Oakland University
*Haley Hompstead *of Roswell, New Mexico - Wayne County Community College?
*Hassan Ezzeddine *of Bloomfield Hills - Wayne State University
*Isiah Sageman *of Pigeon - Saginaw Valley State University
*Jacquindre Brown *of Mount Morris - University of Michigan-Flint
*Jason Folk *of Stow, Ohio - Eastern Michigan University
*Kali Munerlyn *of Flint - Mott Community College
*Keri Hunter *of Detroit - Wayne State University
*Kylee Bratschi *of Milan - Siena Heights University
*Lily Sawyers *of Sterling Heights - Ferris State University
*Lukas Hartley *of Holt - Grand Valley State University
*Mackenzie Stockwell *of Grosse Pointe Woods - Lake Superior State University
*Maurielle Courtois *of Landisville, Pennsylvania - University of Michigan
*Michael Dykstra *of Grandville - Calvin University
*Naomi Garcia *of Riverside, California - University of Michigan
*Natalie Craft *of Paw Paw - Western Michigan University
*Nicholas Gunn *of Berrien Springs - Andrews University
*Rivkie Biritz *of Charlotte - University of Olivet?
*Vanessa Nguyen *of Sterling Heights - Oakland University
*Waabanokiizhick Mandoksing *of Sault Ste. Marie - Bay Mills Community College
*Zena Aljilehawi *of Romulus - Henry Ford College
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This is third iteration of the Michigan Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force. The reports issued by the previous cohorts are available at?Michigan.gov/CSATF [ [link removed] ].
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