On Dec. 5, the LBJ Washington Center celebrated its fifth class of fall 2020 graduates in hybrid graduation ceremony.
The DC Fellows spent their first year of school in Austin before moving to Washington, DC to finish their studies. In Washington, they participated in federal Policy Apprenticeships by day and took classes in the evening.
LBJ Washington Center Executive Director William Shute welcomed the graduates in person, then introduced Dean Angela Evans, who addressed the group remotely.
The 2020 @TheLBJSchool DC Concentration cohort completed their last graduate school class last night! Completing a degree in the midst of a global pandemic is not easy, but this group adapted and thrived. We are excited to watch their continued success as they get in the arena! pic.twitter.com/kAUdZa7Cjm
— LBJ Washington Center (@LBJSchoolDC) Dec. 4, 2020
MGPS-DC student Sahand Yazdanyar was selected by his peers to be the 2020 class speaker.
2020 DC class speaker Sahand Yazdanyar
While being able to speak at graduation is a great honor, I am more humbled at the fact that I have been selected by my peers to do so
Excited for graduation on Saturday and ready to see what the future has in store! #WhatStartsHere https://t.co/oZXtzFr0JG— Sahand Yazdanyar (@SahandYazdanyar) Dec. 2, 2020
My man! Congrats.
— Brandon M. Scott (@CouncilPresBMS) Dec. 5, 2020
Yazdanyar encouraged his peers to remain dedicated to working for the best possible version of the world.
Ellen Satterwhite, a 2009 LBJ School graduate who works in technology policy as vice president at Glen Echo Group, delivered the keynote speech. "I want to remind you why you are where you are and tell you why I think it's going to be OK," she told the cohort. "Because you're helpers. You want to serve. You want to make life more livable for people. You want to do some good. You will end up being our navigators and cheerleaders, analysts and doers, stabilizers and storytellers. And I'll be privileged to call you colleagues."
Ellen Satterwhite (MPAff '09) speaks to the 2020 cohort of DC Fellows on Dec. 5.
1/2 Today at @LBJSchoolDC graduation, alumna + speaker Ellen Satterwhite said, "I want to remind you why you are where you are...Because you're helpers. You want to serve. You want to make life more livable for people. You want to do some good." pic.twitter.com/mHTPruCYpn
— The LBJ School (@TheLBJSchool) Dec.5, 2020
Congratulations graduates! We're proud of you and wish you all the best.
2020 LBJ DC Fellows
Tyler Adams
Master of Public Affairs–DC
Policy Apprenticeship: Winning Strategies Washington
Ryan Anderson
Master of Public Affairs–DC
Policy Apprenticeship: Aspen Institute, Aspen Digital
Catherine Arjet
Master of Global Policy Studies–DC
Policy Apprenticeship: U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA)
Sisto Campana
Master of Global Policy Studies–DC
Policy Apprenticeship: U.S. Department of Labor
Madison Hamilton
Master of Public Affairs–DC
Policy Apprenticeship: Office of Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-SC)
Josh Klein
Master of Public Affairs–DC
Policy Apprenticeship: Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC)
Claire Lecornu
Master of Public Affairs–DC
Policy Apprenticeship: Partnership for Public Service
Sean Mason
Master of Public Affairs–DC
Policy Apprenticeship: U.S. House Committee on Administration (Republican staff)
Rahma Sohail
Master of Global Policy Studies–DC
Policy Apprenticeship: Bread for the World
Amelia Vorpahl
Master of Public Affairs–DC
Policy Apprenticeship: Human Rights First
Taryn Woody
Master of Public Affairs–DC
Policy Apprenticeship: Professional Services Council
Sahand Yazdanyar
Master of Global Policy Studies–DC
Policy Apprenticeship: Center for the Study of Race and Democracy