We hope you enjoy these top news stories about TFAS activities, alumni and events this week. Please visit us on social media for additional up-to-the-moment TFAS news and information and sign up to receive weekly updates.
A Lasting Influence: TFAS Summer Program Transforms Student Leaders
After an impactful eight weeks in the nation’s capital, D.C. Academic Internship Program participants joined the TFAS Alumni Network during a closing ceremony on July 29. The cohort of over 250 in-person students and 30 virtual participants heard from a variety of industry professionals this summer on issues like free speech, media bias, capitalism and U.S. foreign relations. They also forged connections with TFAS alumni through career exploration seminars and networking sessions.
Photo by: Anthony Bolognese, Capitol Hill Photo.
Through this transformative program, TFAS students intern at the nation’s leading think tanks, nonprofits, law firms and government offices while simultaneously taking upper-level economics courses at George Mason University. The comprehensive program combines internships, housing, site briefings, guest lectures, a professional development series, a one-on-one mentorship program, and academic courses taught by world-class TFAS faculty.
University of Tulsa student Asa Scott ’21 shared that his economics class with TFAS Professor Dr. Christopher Coyne encouraged him to pursue healthcare policy as a career.
“Two years ago, when I began at the University of Tulsa, I had no clue what I wanted to study. Gradually, my passions for political science and chemistry gave rise to one specific interest in healthcare policy,” Scott shared. “Thanks to my TFAS program, this interest has quickly transformed into a potential career path. My class, ‘Economic Problems and Public Policies’ taught by Dr. Chris Coyne, opened my eyes to another dimension of policy and political science – a study of incentives and purposeful human action in the presence of choices, which Dr. Coyne regularly referred to as the ‘economic way of thinking.’”
Learn more about the summer 2021 program in Washington, D.C. at TFAS.org/SummerRecap21.
Finding the Answers: TFAS Summer Law Fellowship Gives Law Students Inside Look at Legal World
The TFAS Summer Law Fellowship brought together 28 outstanding law students from across the country to study constitutional interpretation, originalism and liberty during the nine-week in-person program. With internships, classes, professional development seminars, guest lectures and a “Thoughts from the Bench” series featuring several federal judges, the Law Fellows experienced a summer like no other.
The classes have provided a perspective that one would not get from their own university. The selection, the curation even, of these perspectives and the depth of knowledge and experience is unparalleled, and I’m just so grateful to have participated in it.” – Naomi Singer, Law ’21
Naomi Singer, Law ’21, says the most fulfilling parts of her experience as a TFAS Summer Law Fellow were meeting outstanding peers in her cohort and learning from top-notch faculty and constitutional experts in Washington, D.C.
“I feel like those connections are valuable not just in the long-term, but also personally in terms of understanding how other people see the world,” Singer said. “The classes have provided a perspective that one would not get from their own university. The selection, the curation even, of these perspectives and the depth of knowledge and experience is unparalleled, and I’m just so grateful to have participated in it.”
The 2021 TFAS Law Fellows have completed the summer with a better understanding of originalism, the legal structures that protect liberty and what it takes to be a good lawyer. Over the past nine weeks, they have laid the foundations of their professional networks, established their career interests in the legal field, and gained a unique experience that few other law students have.
To read a full recap of the TFAS Summer Law Fellowship, visit TFAS.org/LawRecap21.
Creating Connections Between Economics and Everyday Choices
With record-breaking enrollment from students from across the U.S. and worldwide, this summer has been full of excitement and learning for TFAS high school programming division, the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE).
Nearly 900 students have the opportunity to examine the “economic way of thinking” through engaging lectures and interactive simulations in both in-person and online programs. Programming began Monday, June 14, and will run until Friday, August 6, focusing on three primary student programs – Economics for Leaders (EFL), Economic Forces in American History (EFIAH) and Entrepreneurship in the Global Economy (EGE).
One of the programs offered this summer is Economics for Leaders (EFL), which teaches student leaders how to integrate economics into the decision-making process and provides the foundational skills of effective leadership. Students have consistently ranked our core program, EFL, as ‘top-notch,’ ‘wonderful’ and ‘life-changing’ and this summer is no exception.
“I came here not knowing what to expect through a virtual week-long program, but the staff and professors seriously gave me no regrets in the program,” said student Benjamin Yan. “They brought the energy every day and welcomed everyone with open arms. I got to meet so many cool people from all around the country, and the week flew by.”
Learn more about FTE’s summer programs at TFAS.org/FTERecap21.
Post of the Week
Twenty-seven students were recognized as the 2021 TFAS Leadership Scholars this summer. The Leadership Scholars Program provides full tuition and housing scholarships for top students to participate in the Summer Academic Internship Program in Washington, D.C. Throughout the summer, these students attended additional programming including exclusive networking events, briefings and tours. Last week, the Leadership Scholars celebrated the end of the summer with a closing ceremony luncheon at TFAS Headquarters.
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QUICK LINKS
TFAS Summer Law Fellows Chris Barnewolt and Timothy Kilcullen are featured in the Sun Gazette for their participation in the 2021 TFAS Summer Law Fellowship in Washington, D.C.
Dalya Berkowitz ’21 is featured in this University of Pittsburgh Pittwire piece for her experience with TFAS this summer in Washington, D.C.
Jennifer Kabbany, Novak ’02, shares the positive side of choosing to attend community college in a piece for The College Fix.
Naomi Schaefer Riley, Novak ’01, writes for Independent Women’s Forum about a lack of concern for child welfare in the U.S.
Calvin Blaylock, PPF ’20, has been awarded a Generation Liberty Fellowship with State Policy Network.
Frederico Bartels, PPF ’18, coauthors a piece for The Daily Signal on how Congress could make the Department of Defense more cost-efficient.
Nina Trentmann ’08 writes for The Wall Street Journal on how finance companies are working towards adopting new spreadsheet systems.
Josh Holdenreid, PPF ’18, writes about government overreach from the Internal Revenue Service in the New York Post.
Paul Glader ’99, ’00 discusses the faith journey of Milwaukee Bucks and NBA World Champion player Giannis Antetokounmpo in Religion Unplugged.
Emily Ketterer ’19 is now a reporter covering the state house for the Indianapolis Business Journal.