Andrea Barnes, a second-year student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been selected as the University’s first recipient of the Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows Program, a competitive, five and a half week leadership development program for rising college juniors who want to make a difference.
Offering unparalleled opportunities to a select group of young men and women, the program immerses students in a dynamic leadership curriculum inspired by George Washington and today’s foremost leaders. This year, 15 students will interact with nationally recognized corporate, government and military leaders and discover how to change the world through self-reflection, experiential activities and a community service-focused capstone project.
The fully funded, residential summer program, which is based at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate, just outside Washington, D.C., includes a $600 weekly stipend plus all room, board and transportation expenses.
“Andrea has benefited from great mentors, and in turn, has sought ways to mentor others, said Chancellor Carol L. Folt. “We are so proud that the Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows program recognizes her commitment to public service and education and has selected her as Carolina’s very first recipient of this distinguished fellowship. I know her experiences this summer will translate into new opportunities for many underserved populations.”
Barnes, 19, from Fort Washington, Maryland, is a public policy and sociology double major and Hispanic studies minor in the College of Arts and Sciences. She came to UNC-Chapel Hill as a Carolina Covenant Scholar and as the only Margerison Distinguished Scholar in her cohort.
As a first generation college student, Barnes is passionate about expanding access to higher education to more minority and low-income communities. Her desire to help others stems from impactful mentors who shaped the successes of her life. At Carolina, Barnes serves as the director of the Latina/o Mentoring Program, which provides academic and professional resources for students on campus. Additionally, she is an Admissions Ambassador, Co-Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement for Students for Education Reform, an Honors Carolina member and a member of pre-law fraternity Phi Alpha Delta. Barnes is also a gold medalist figure skater and coach. She plans to attend law school, and hopes to eventually run for Congress.
“I am extremely honored to represent both Carolina and Prince George’s County, MD as a Mount Vernon Leadership Fellow,” said Barnes. “The fellowship will allow me to make monumental, community-based change that will give more students the ability to attend an extraordinary college or university, like UNC-Chapel Hill.”
Learn more about the Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows program here.
Learn about other nationally-competitive and prestigious awards from the Office of Distinguished Scholarships (ODS), and follow ODS on Twitter: @ODS_UNCCH.
