Randolph College Senior Earns Coveted Spot at Sorensen Institute

LYNCHBURG – Danielle Simms ’10 has been selected to attend the 2010 College Leaders Program conducted by the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

The competitive program brings together students from across Virginia to study the mechanisms of Virginia politics and policy and to learn to be more active citizens. Students are selected based on a rigorous application process.

Simms, who is from Raleigh, North Carolina, is an environmental science major. She hopes to merge her passions for environmentalism and politics in the future.

“I really like being involved in politics and seeing change occur,” Simms said. “I want to use politics to motivate change. It is a way to be dedicated to your country.”

Simms is no stranger to politics. She interned for Barack Obama’s campaign during the presidential election and has also worked for local candidates. In addition, she has been active on Randolph College’s Environmental Issues Council and other environmental activities on campus as well as on Student Government and with Powershift. She is also involved with Circle K, a service club. Simms was just named the finance director for Virginia’s Young Democrats.

Simms will attend the four-week program at the University of Virginia in June. The Institute offers an advance program on public service and leadership for college students. The program is based on the belief that young people not only can make a positive difference in their communities, they should be strongly encouraged to do so. Sorensen’s College Leaders Program gives students the practical skills and political knowledge to become effective advocates in government and business. As part of the program, students participate in debates about controversial public policy and meet with influential leaders from the government, business, non-profit and academic sectors.