Thank you for registering your interest in Country First's National Democracy Scholar ("NDS") program, a distinction that demonstrates your commitment to defending and preserving American democracy.
As a reminder, here are the benefits of and requirements for becoming a National Democracy Scholar:
National Democracy Scholar Benefits:
- Invitation to join regional and/or national committees with further leadership opportunities and distinctions.
- Access to exclusive programming with Congressman Adam Kinzinger and other pro-democracy leaders.
- Professional development opportunities with distinguished members of Country First.
- Add this impressive title and award to your LinkedIn, resume, and graduate school applications.
- Free Country First swag.
Requirements: (complete all 3)
- Identify professors’ classes and/or student groups open to a 3-5 minute informative presentation about Country First, and give three such presentations (you will be given everything necessary to successfully do so). The presentation is simple, straightforward, and available for your use here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1kGXWbn_JfC2hoshYH89h6_L9Oys9zmCk/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=117351535923788830647&rtpof=true&sd=true
- Submit a letter to the editor of your school newspaper, university-wide digital blog, or other on-campus publication highlighting a problem that Country First aims to address.
- Develop a project that shares the Country First mission with others and represents your core values. It can be tabling at your university, creating a series of informational TikToks (at least 3), planning a supply drive for a local organization, participating in community service, or anything else you brainstorm!
Submission of Final Qualification Materials:
To qualify as a National Democracy Scholar, you will need to furnish Country First with the following items, which will be submitted via this form:
Upon completing the requirements, please complete this form to submit materials necessary to qualify for the award:
- Presentation Report. Please create a single document containing a photo of you conducting each of the three presentations. The photos should be taken from a vantage point (like the back of the room) that gives us a sense of the presentation environment. In the document, please label each photo with the date, time, location, estimated number in attendance, and a brief summary of how it went. For presentations conducted in a professor's classroom, we will ask you to include their names and contact information so Country First can formally thank them for helping facilitate the program.
- Copy of letter, newspaper article, blog post, journal entry, etc. We will ask for a copy of the written piece you submit to a campus online or print publication. Please include where, when, and how it was submitted. If your entry was publicized or printed, please share links or photos with us in the document as well.
- Project Report. In 250 words or less, please share details of the special project you completed. For any social media content you may create, please provide links.
Form: National Democracy Scholar - Final Application and Supporting Document Submission
Country First Internship Opportunities:
If you are interested in applying for an internship with Country First, please complete the application here.
Questions/Feedback:
If you have any questions at all, please reach out to Andrew Regalado at [email protected]