McConnell Center celebrates 10 new graduates

Yesterday, the McConnell Center recognized and honored 10 McConnell Scholars who will soon graduate from the University of Louisville. The students, all from Kentucky, attended UofL on McConnell Scholarships which included full-tuition monetary awards, opportunities to travel internationally, participation in a robust leadership enrichment program and exclusive meetings with national and internal leaders.

Over the course of their four years, the McConnell Scholar Class of 2022 had the chance to meet with U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and CIA Director Gina Haspel, among others.

 Graduating McConnell Scholars and their notable collegiate highlights include:

• Bella Beilman (Louisville, Ky.): Bella majored in political science with minors in economics and Middle Eastern and Islamic studies at UofL. She served as president of the UofL College of Business, student senator for the Student Government Association and as a member of Chi Omega fraternity. After graduation, she plans to travel around Kentucky and the world.
• Emily Davis (Morganfield, Ky.): Emily majored in economics with a minor in mathematics at UofL. She was a campus research assistant and served as a leader with Sojourn College’s campus ministry. Emily will pursue a PhD in economics with a research interest in labor and public economics.
• Austin Dillon (McCarr, Ky.): Austin earned degrees in economics and political science with a minor in politics, philosophy and economics (PPE) at UofL. He was a research assistant at the Pegasus Institute, interned for the American Enterprise Institute's president, an Honors Scholar with Intercollegiate Studies Institute and a member of the AEI's Executive Council at UofL. He plans to attend law school after graduation.
• Leah Hazelwood (Lebanon, Ky.): Leah majored in political science with minors in global public health and race and gender studies at UofL. She was named a Kentucky Colonel, received the President's Service Award Recipient, served as chief of staff for the Student Government Association and was a Woodford R. Porter Scholar and an Honors Scholar. Leah will join Cigna's Managed Care Leadership Development Program following graduation. She later plans to pursue a master's degree in public health with a focus on health policy.
• Laura Hinkle (Elizabethtown, Ky.): Laura majored in political science with a minor in philosophy. She also earned a certificate in ethics at UofL. She was an Honors Scholar, member of the UofL Model United Nations, health ambassador with Envirome Institute, PEACC Center volunteer and a policy intern at the Council of State Governments. She plans to pursue a master's degree of public administration. 
• Will Randolph (Franklin, Ky.): Will majored in political science with minors in history and Spanish at UofL. He was a member of the UofL American Enterprise Institute Executive Council, the McConnell Center's moot court team and regular volunteer with Kentucky Refugee Ministries. After getting married this summer, he plans to work in Bowling Green, Ky., before attending law school.
• Lauren Reuss (Mount Washington, Ky.): Lauren majored in political science and economics with a minor in philosophy. She also earned a certificate in ethics at UofL. She was the Director of Operations for the UofL Engage Lead Serve Board's CCU Cardinal Cupboard Food Pantry; interned as a curriculum specialist at Canopy; served as a legislative intern for Kentucky Rep. Melinda Gibbons Prunty (R-15); and interned at the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs. Lauren earned a Fulbright Scholarship to teach English in Thailand. She plans work in civic education and corporate social responsibility in the Louisville area after graduation.
• Madelin Shelton (Owenton, Ky.): Madelin majored in political science and communications at UofL. She was the editor of the Louisville Cardinal student newspaper, outreach chair of the McConnell Scholars Council and volunteer with BSideU for Life and Sojourn Midtown Kids Ministry. Madelin plans to take a gap year before attending law school.
• Alli Wade (Annville, Ky.): Alli majored in political science and criminal justice at UofL. She served as chair of the McConnell Scholars Council, was an Honors Scholar with Intercollegiate Studies Institute and served as a member of the UofL American Enterprise Institute's Executive Council and the McConnell Center's moot court team. She was also a McConnell Center public relations student assistant. Alli plans to attend the University of Kentucky College of Law.
• Kieran Waigel (Louisville, Ky.): Kieran majored in computer science and engineering with a minor in political science at UofL. He was a member of Triangle Fraternity and worked outside of school pursuing flight training and his commercial license. After graduation, Kieran will join the Digital Technology Leadership Program at GE Aviation in Cincinnati.