Juan Gonzalez of Holyoke, Eric Beaulieu of Chicopee and Dylan Welsted of South Deerfield are among students who will spend one week learning about political campaigns and a second week on the convention floor.
Left to right, Eric Beaulieu, Juan Gonzalez and Dylan WelstedWESTFIELD – A group of eight Westfield State University students will get an insight into national politics, with some hoping to bolster their own political aspirations, when they attend the Republican and Democratic national conventions.
They will also earn three college credits through the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars and some will be put to work either by political parties or organizations and the media.
Holyoke’s Juan A. Gonzalez and Chicopee’s Eric M. Beaulieu will use the experience in their future plans to run for City Council in their respective communities. South Deerfield’s Dylan C. Welsted will use his Republican National Convention experience in his pursuit of a career as a history professor.
Welsted also intends to use the convention as an opportunity to focus on an issue of educational services, tools and programs for those with learning disabilities. He suffers attention deficit, hyperactivity and dyslexia and had a personal experience in trying to obtain particular computer equipment through MassRehab when he entered college.
The WSU junior said he will seek an opportunity to discuss that issue with U.S. Sen. Scott Brown during the Republican convention in Tampa, Fla.
“This is my first time at a convention and I am hoping to meet with Scott Brown and also would like to meet (former presidential candidate) Ron Paul,” said Welsted.
“I am a history major hoping to become a history professor. The convention allows me to experience how the system works and to be part of history making,” he said.
Gonzalez has already made one connection at the convention, reaching out to Dori L. Dean, former chief of staff for Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse and a convention delegate.
“I’m hoping she can gain access for me to some activities that will be going on,” Gonzalez, a Hampden County representative to the Governor’s Youth Council.
“I am looking forward to real interaction with those at the convention,” he said.
Beaulieu wants to meet former President Bill Clinton. “I have always had a passion for politics and last year almost ran for the Ward 9 City Council seat. But, school was more demanding,” he said.
When not enjoying the convention, Beaulieu will work as a “runner” for Bloomberg News. He explained his job will be to assist in scheduling interviews and help coordinate. “This gives me the opportunity to meet and chat with people,” he said.
WSU President Evan S. Dobelle, a former White House chief of protocol under President Jimmy Carter, said the “Washington Center offers our students the extraordinary opportunity to study and work in our nation’s capital. Attendance at the national conventions provides real-life, micro insight into how federal government works and the type of careers available.”
Students will spend the first week of their two-week experience learning the history of political campaigns, convention planning and procedures and the role of the media. The second week will be spent at the convention, participating in field work assignments and attending convention receptions and rallies.
Westfield State University has been affiliated with The Washington Center since 1991 and since then 334 WSU students have attended its programs and seminars.
The students' convention experiences will be chronicled at www.westfield.ma.edu/news.