Viktoriya Mukha speaks during the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute’s women’s luncheon at the National Conservative Student Conference.
Mukha meets conference speaker Dr. Ben Carson.
Dear Friends,
Mukha’s enjoys time in Washington, D.C., during her internship with the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute.
“Thank You”
As I look ahead to the fall and prepare to return to my studies at University of California – Berkeley, I would like to personally thank you for giving me the opportunity to attend the National Conservative Student Conference in Washington, D.C. My family and I fled to America from the former Soviet Union in search of greater opportunities and religious freedom. I understand the importance of a free market society and the reasons why America has become the greatest nation of all time. But as President Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” Even though I have always had strong convictions about speaking up about my views, I was terrified to do it by myself on my campus. This YAF conference could not have come at a better time. I have been inspired by listening to remarkable speakers, including Senator Ted Cruz, Dr. Ben Carson, Bay Buchanan, and more. They encouraged me to stand strong and keep fighting the good fight on my college campus because America depends on strong conservatives of my generation in order to remain the greatest nation on earth. Now is definitely not the time to give up. It is no secret that the left’s presence is very strong at UC Berkeley, and I wish all my classmates could attend this conference. But the next best thing is having me attend, so I can go back to my campus and spread the truth about conservative ideas. This past week, my passion for conservative values has been reignited and strengthened. It is because of generous conservative supporters like you, that we are able to challenge the left on our campuses. Thank you so much.
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ideas and principles. Additional leaders addressing the 2013 National Conservative Student Conference included activist and author Bay Buchanan, pollster Kellyanne Conway, Young America’s Foundation Vice President Patrick Coyle, comedian and Fox News contributor Steven Crowder, Weekly Standard columnist Stephen Hayes, American University professor Chris Malagisi, author and Fox News contributor Kate Obenshain, Project Veritas founder James O’Keefe, bestselling author and YAF alumna Katie Pavlich, Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute Lecture Director 20
God Bless You and Your Family, Viktoriya Mukha
Catherine Rodriguez, Regnery Publishing President Marji Ross, and New Jersey Assemblyman Jay Webber, among others. In addition to hearing from more than 40 speakers, the conference participants connected with like-minded friends from around the country. They returned to their campuses eager to share the ideas they learned. “This week has been a life-changing experience because I have been exposed to conservative arguments and ideas that are not taught on my college campus,” noted Texas Christian University student Kathleen D’Urso.
Young America’s Foundation | Libertas | Winter 2014
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