This month, the Institute brought civil debate to Washington, D.C., where a Camp O’Connor alum helped lead the way. Also in this issue: a $10,000 grant from The Hershey Company; our fall O'Connor Institute-Arizona State University Law Fellow; and a first-anniversary look at the Civics for Life Community App.
Twelve Leaders, Three Debates, One Stage in Washington
The Sandra Day O'Connor Institute–Washington Union Society Debate Series at The George Washington University
On Saturday, October 3, the Institute served as Presenting Sponsor of the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute–Washington Union Society Debate Series at The George Washington University. Over a full day in GW's Jack Morton Auditorium, twelve national policy leaders from twelve organizations, representing a range of perspectives, squared off in three Oxford-style debates on free trade, artificial intelligence, and American foreign policy, followed by a closing panel.
The exchanges were sharp and civil, which is exactly the kind of debate the Institute exists to promote, and speakers and students alike told us how glad they were that the Institute was behind the day.
From Camp O'Connor to Washington: A Civics Journey
Trex Jones found his civic spark at the O'Connor Institute in 8th grade and has continued to make it part of his journey. In January, Trex, a GW student who had just become the Washington Union Society's grants and outreach director, wrote to the Institute, and the partnership grew from that note. The relationship itself goes back eight years.
It started at Camp O'Connor. In the summer of 2018, before eighth grade, Trex attended Camp O'Connor USA, the Institute's free, merit-based civics and leadership camp for middle schoolers. He arrived thinking about a career in sales and left with a love for public service.
"I never would have gotten into any of these positions had I not attended the camp," he later wrote in an essay with fellow camp alum Hunter White. Those positions included student body president in middle school and high school, president of the Scottsdale Mayor's Youth Council, president of his district's Superintendent's Student Advisory Board, and a representative to Boys Nation.
At Arcadia High School, Trex partnered with the Institute to establish the O’Connor Institute Ambassadors Civics & Debate Club, the Institute’s national civics and debate program that has grown to include all 50 states. Through Ambassadors, he sharpened his civil debate skills and learned to engage with perspectives different from his own. He also worked with the Institute on voter registration drives, candidate forums, and other civic programs for high school students.
At GW, Trex has completed two congressional internships on Capitol Hill, one on each side of the aisle. And on October 3, he ran the day itself: logistics, volunteers, catering, and setup, alongside Society president Ray Hennessy, who built the speaker lineup with Trex and ran the stage.
From Camp O'Connor to the Ambassadors to the Fetzer Scholarship to a stage in the nation's capital, Trex's path is the one the Institute's youth programs are built to open, and a reminder of what an early investment in civic education can become.
Sweet Support for Civic Learning
The Hershey Company Awards $10,000 Grant
The Sandra Day O’Connor Institute thanks The Hershey Company for directing a $10,000 grant to support youth civic education and engagement.
This gift helps sustain programs that give students the knowledge, skills, and confidence to take part in civic and community life. We are grateful to partners like Hershey who see the value of strengthening civic education for future generations.
Meet Our Fall Semester 2026 O'Connor Institute–ASU Law D.C. Fellow: Satchel Bellard
The O’Connor Institute–ASU Law Fellowship gives third-year students from ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law firsthand experience in public policy and civic life during their Washington semester.
This fall, Fellow Satchel Bellard helped produce the Institute’s first Washington debate series at The George Washington University. He also met with national legal leaders, including American Bar Association President Barbara J. Howard.
Satchel continues the work of spring 2026 Fellow Anna Barlin, who engaged congressional offices through a national student summit on Capitol Hill.
Civics for Life Community App Celebrates One Year!
One year ago, we launched the Civics for Life Community App as a home for curious, lifelong learners of every age. Here’s what the community has built so far:
- Nearly 12,000 members from across the country
- Thousands of daily quizzes taken
- Dozens of civic surveys
- History Nerd articles for the geekiest among us
- And more
Thank you for learning with us. If you haven’t joined yet, now is a great time.
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