The academy brought together student government representatives from California community colleges to learn about federal policymaking and to elevate student perspectives on key issues, including educational equity, basic needs, financial aid, and access to higher education. Participants engaged in a series of workshops, including Advocacy 101, Differences Between Federal and State Advocacy, Storytelling for Policy Impact, and sessions examining federal policies affecting financial aid and student support services.

Representing MSJC were Student Government Association leaders Serenity Siler (Menifee Valley Campus Senator and UMOJA President), Corey Tatum (Menifee Valley Campus Senator and A2MEND President), Lamari Oliver (Temecula Valley Campus Senator), Geneva Davisson (Temecula Valley Campus Senator), and Claudia Walukouw (MSJC Student Trustee). Student advisors Amber Rivera and Deja Pruitt also accompanied the delegation.

During the trip, MSJC students had the opportunity to visit the United States Capitol and meet with congressional staff from Congressman Ken Calvert’s office, including Legislative Assistant Marshall Bessey. The students also attended events where they met Senator Alex Padilla during a town hall and Congressman Mark Takano at a dinner honoring his public service.

For many students, the experience marked their first opportunity to engage directly with the federal policy process.

“I wanted to go to Washington, D.C., so I could take my advocacy to the next level,” said Serenity Siler. “D.C. allowed me to get opportunities such as talking with representatives and networking with other colleges. I think it’s a great opportunity for students to learn about what is going on in our economy and how our voices can make a change. It was a very fun experience overall, and I really hope that other people can experience the same thing.”

Lamari Oliver said the experience helped demonstrate how student voices can influence policy discussions.

“I wanted to go to Washington, D.C., so I can start my first advocacy as a community college student,” Oliver said. “This trip gave me the experience and ability to talk to people who make the real changes that matter in our community and country. I learned about the power of our voices and the power of connection to one another. D.C. wasn’t only fun but educational, and all students should try to attend if given the opportunity.”

Geneva Davisson said the academy helped her better understand how federal policies impact students across the country.

“My experience in Washington, D.C., introduced me to many other community college student government officers,” Davisson said. “I had the opportunity to create realistic goals at the community college level and learned how federal decisions impact students. Not only was D.C. educational, but I also got 26,000 steps in one day, loads of pizza, and enjoyed the sightseeing.”

The Federal Advocacy Academy provided MSJC student leaders with hands-on experience in civic engagement and public policy, reinforcing the college’s commitment to preparing students not only for academic and career success but also for informed participation in democratic processes.

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Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) students Stephanie Daniels and Drashuna Pilcher are two of 207 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) students nationwide who have been selected as 2022 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholars, each earning $1,000 scholarships.

Daniels is a Hemet resident majoring in Early Childhood Education and Pilcher is a San Jacinto resident majoring in Liberal Arts: Math and Science.

“This honor means the world to me,” Pilcher said. “A quote that I love is ‘Always believe the impossible is possible.’ My family comes from nothing, and my aim is to stop that generational curse to enhance my family’s quality of life. It takes generous individuals like this organization to put faith in us as students to help us achieve our dreams and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this opportunity!”

After MSJC, Pilcher plans to earn a nursing degree at a four-year university. She then hopes to work in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for a few years and then enroll in the Doctorate in Nursing Anesthesia program at Loma Linda University to work in plastic surgery. She would like to open her own med spa locally.

For Daniels, the plan is to transfer to a University of California (UC) system school to earn her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She wants to become a child life specialist, working with children in a hospital.

“This honor truly means a lot as I am working really hard to be where I am at,” she said. “I work full-time and am dealing with some medical problems, but my education is still important to me, and I will make sure that I fulfill every goal I have set for myself.”

The Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program helps new Phi Theta Kappa members defray educational expenses while enrolled in associate degree programs. Scholars are encouraged to assume leadership roles by participating in PTK programs and are selected based on scholastic achievement, community service, and leadership potential. More than 1,300 applications were received.

“The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges,” said Jane Hale Hopkins, President of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. “We are proud to partner with Phi Theta Kappa to make it possible for more deserving students to achieve their educational goals and support tomorrow’s leaders of the global community.”

The funds provided by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation not only aid college completion, but also give students the opportunity to engage in PTK programs and develop leadership skills to become future leaders in their communities.

“Research shows that Phi Theta Kappa members are four times more likely to complete a college degree than their peers,” said Dr. Monica Marlowe, Executive Director of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation. “The Leaders of Promise Scholarships recognize students for what they have achieved already and assure that financial need isn’t an obstacle to achieving their academic goals.”

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