2020-2021 Forge Mentorship Academy Class

2020-2021

Forge Mentorship Academy

Friendship is born at the moment when one man says to another "What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . ."

C.S. Lewis

2020-2021 Academy

KAYLEE ARBOGAST

JESSICA BARBEE

WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY

EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

Kaylee developed a love for other cultures at a young age, which has developed into her current passions and interests now. She is passionate about the culture and politics of the Middle East, as well as the Arabic language. She enjoys examining the history of the region that still affects the land today.

Jessica obtained both a B.A. in Anthropology and Masters of Public Health in Epidemiology and Global Health from ETSU. Jessica works toward the betterment of international health through a cultural understanding of health phenomena; thus, connecting the fields of anthropology, public health, and health policy.

BRYANT BARGER

BRANDON BATCHELOR

TAYLOR UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

Bryant was born and raised on a farm in rural northeast Indiana. Growing up he spent most of his time working on the farm and playing tennis.

Now a senior at Taylor University with a major in PPE (Philosophy, Political Science & Economics) and minors in Legal Studies, Biblical Studies, and Spanish, he hopes to attend law school and pursue a career in criminal or constitutional law.

Brandon grew up in the heart of the Midwest, in Omaha, Nebraska. In high school he joined a Speech and Debate league and started working with TeenPact Leadership Schools. The combination of those two activities sparked a love for politics in him that is still burning today.

Currently, he is studying Political Science and Economics at the University of Georgia with plans to earn his Master's degree in Economics.

2020-2021 Academy

SAVANNA BEAURLINE

MARIA BENCHIC

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN

MOREHEAD STATE UNIVERSITY

Savanna Beaurline is a interdisciplinary studies major at the University of Northwestern. Savanna’s calling is to serve as a voice for the voiceless in the pro-life movement. Savanna is the president and founder of the Northwestern Students for Life chapter, a Student Spokesperson for Students For Life, a Minnesota State Captain with Students For Life Action, and a Students For Life 2019-2020 Wilberforce fellow.

Maria Benchic is a 4th and 5th grade public school teacher. She is passionate about education, Christ-centered family, and investing in the next generation leaders. She serves her church in various capacities—as a Young Marrieds small group leader, Young Adults lead team member, kids church leader, etc. She is a helper and a bit of an overachiever.

BESS BLACKBURN

EMMA BLAIR

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY

Bess Blackburn is a history graduate student at Liberty University. Prior to entering graduate studies, Bess earned a BS in Documentary Filmmaking, a BA in Classical Studies, and a minor in Koine Greek at Liberty. Her work focuses on the intersection of policy and academia, with a focus on natural law, liberty of conscience, and human flourishing.

Emma Blair is a sophomore taking classes in history, finance, and government. Upon graduation, she hopes to teach high school U.S. history or government in order to earn her teacher certification. She would also love to work in public policy one day, whether running for state legislature or working as a political activist. She enjoys spending time with her family, watching/playing sports, listening to other people's perspectives, analyzing movies, and reading books.

2020-2021 Academy

CALVIN BLAYLOCK

BECCA DELAHUNT

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI - COLUMBIA

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

Calvin serves The Heritage Foundation as Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Development. In this role, he works to optimize the Vice President’s performance, lead key initiatives through the 50-person Development department, and craft strategic communications to Heritage’s 500,000 generous donors. Prior to joining Heritage full-time, Calvin served the Leadership Institute as a Donor Relations Officer for the Northeast region.

Becca Delahunt works as a data analyst at Nielsen, a consulting/market research firm. She studied marketing and minored in business analytics at the University of Minnesota, graduating in 2019. She is interested in history, politics, researching family heritage, studying the Bible, theology, reading, travel, swing dancing, singing, and finding the best coffee (yes, part hipster, part grandma).

REBEKAH DICKERSON

ELISHA DOERR

SOUTHWESTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

Rebekah is a Christian, an artist, a bookworm, a coffee fanatic, and a foodie. She is interested in the area of Bioethics, whether that be going into Medical Law, Public Policy, Scientific Research, or Medicine itself. She is a fifth year senior at Scarborough College in Fort Worth, TX and is an active leader on her campus. She works closely with students, encouraging them in their studies, tutoring them, & helping them achieve their goals.

Elisha Doerr loves learning about people, politics, and pretty much anything new. He is currently interning in Governor Kristi Noem's office in South Dakota while attending classes virtually at Harvard. Some of his hobbies are reading, board games, and playing with whatever new technology he has got his hands on!

2020-2021 Academy

ADRIENNE FERGUSON

ELLEN FISCHER

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

PATRICK HENRY COLLEGE

Adrienne is majoring in Political Science and Spanish. Upon graduation, she intends to pursue a Juris Doctorate degree. After some years in the legal field, she anticipates entering the political arena. While being a full-time student, she works as an editor and writer for her university's magazine and manages a charity, Esperanza para Guatemala, which provides basic living necessities and school supplies for children in third world countries.

Ellen Fischer is a Junior at Patrick Henry College in Northern Virginia studying International Politics and Policy. The oldest of 7 kids and the daughter of an Air Force father, she was homeschooled since Kindergarten. Her goal in life is to proclaim the Truth in every and all situations regarding people’s worldview, politics, or culture and she hopes to keep this as her first and foremost pursuit.

DANIEL GERBER TAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Daniel Gerber is from Danville, Indiana and is a senior at Taylor University majoring in finance and PPE (political science, philosophy, economics) with a minor in Biblical Literature.

MARY GREGG HILLSDALE COLLEGE

Mary Gregg was born and raised in the greater Seattle area. She is currently a junior at Hillsdale College studying Politics. As a member of the Federalist Society, an avid reader of American political philosophy, and an active volunteer, she has cultivated a desire to learn more about human nature and how relationships develop. Her current career plan is to become a legal advisor to state senators back at home in Washington.

2020-2021 Academy

ABIGAIL HISSONG

NICK HISSONG

WILMINGTON COLLEGE

CLARK STATE UNIVERSITY

Abigail is majoring in Agronomy at Wilmington College. She is currently serving as the treasurer for the Agronomy club and is a member of Wilmington's Honors Program. She is passionate about agriculture and her conservative beliefs. She combined these two important elements of her life when she went with Wilmington's Ag Dept. to D.C. to lobby for the passage of the USMCA.

Nick Hissong is a salesman for Channel Seed and works on his family farm of 2300 acres. Of that he is personally responsible for 250 of those acres.

Most important to him is his belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Savior of Mankind. Other things important to him, in no particular order, are his family, friends and conservative beliefs that help him understand the world.

JOSH HLAVATY

LYDIA HOCEVAR

ASHLAND UNIVERSITY

ASHLAND UNIVERSITY

Josh is a Junior at Ashland University studying Political Economy and is an Ashbrook Scholar.

Josh is also Executive Vice President of Student Senate and a member of the DII Men's Basketball Team at Ashland. He currently works on his family’s farm in Jeromesville, Ohio where he takes care of 20,000 chickens.

Lydia Hocevar is a junior at Ashland University studying International Political Studies as well as Economics and Philosophy. She is also an Ashbrook Scholar and the AU Chapter President of the Network of Enlightened Women. She is aiming to someday work in Intelligence Analyzing and Foreign Policy. She also enjoys reading, writing, learning languages, and practicing music.

2020-2021 Academy

JOSHUA JASMIN

JAKE JOHNSON

ASHLAND UNIVERSITY

CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY

Joshua Jasmin is an Ashbrook Scholar at Ashland University with majors in Political Science, History, and Spanish. He is also teaching an American government/history course at a local Christian school. In high school, he founded the NHS Patriot Project, a student organization designed to promote love of country and civic responsibility. Joshua plans to pursue a career in immigration law.

Jake Johnson is a political science major from Cedarville University. He has aspirations to go into law and politics, seeking to advocate for common sense social and economic policies. A native of Oklahoma and longtime resident of Colorado, Jake enjoys the outdoors, sports, reading, listening to country music, and participating in student government.

PAUL KAYEMBE

EMILY KRIKKE

EASTERN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY

CALVIN UNIVERSITY

Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, I first attended the Intensive English Program (IEP) before enrolling in College in the Fall of 2016. With a double major in Peacebuilding and Development, and Sociology, and three minors in Pre-Law, Political Science, and English. After grad school, I plan to get involved in Politics while also advocating for the cause of Women and Children, survivors of sexual violence & the underprivileged globally.

Emily is from Greenwich, Ohio. She attended Calvin University where she graduated in 2013 with her Bachelors in Nursing. Emily works as a Certified Pediatric Registered Nurse at Akron Children's Hospital in Mansfield, Ohio. She currently attends Cedarville University where she is pursuing her Pediatric Nurse Practitioner degree. Emily recently finished her term on the Ohio Farm Bureau Young Agricultural Professionals State Committee as Vice President.

2020-2021 Academy

BRADY MARZEN

MARK MIKITYUK

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY

Brady majors in International Security as a sophomore at Georgetown University. Brady served as the Freshman Representative and then as the Director of Communications for the Georgetown College Republicans, and he is the current Fellows Chair for the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service. Brady now works on the policy team of Madrus and is interning with the Heritage Foundation.

Mark is Junior at UC Berkeley studying comparative politics with a focus on Eastern European and Latin American governments and their interaction with the US. He works for a thirdparty litigation company in Sacramento to acquire medical and insurance information on subjects of civil law cases. He is VP of Speech at Berkeley and a member of Berkeley’s chapter of the Phi Alpha Delta pre-law fraternity.

RUTH MORENO

YASH NAGPAL

HILLSDALE COLLEGE

DUKE UNIVERSITY

Ruth Moreno is a junior at Hillsdale College, where she is majoring in politics and minoring in art. This semester, she is in D.C. continuing her classes and interning with Family Research Council in their policy department. She hopes to be involved in policy research and analysis in the future. Beyond politics, she enjoys drawing and painting, reading, playing board games, being outdoors, and watching the New York Yankees.

Yash Nagpal is a senior at Duke University, studying political science and biology. After graduation, he hopes to work in healthcare policy, helping shape American healthcare to have more transparent costs, allow competitive pricing to lower the cost for the American consumer, and providing incentives that benefit patients, not pharmaceutical companies.

2020-2021 Academy

EMMA PETERS

BEN PORTER

LINCOLN LAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE

GROVE CITY COLLEGE

Emma is currently attending Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, IL where she is studying Agribusiness and Animal Sciences and is also competing on the Livestock Judging Team.

During High School, she was involved with 4-H, FFA, and various sports and activities. She is very active in the agricultural community and wants to pursue a career in working with livestock upon completing college.

Ben graduated from Grove City College with a degree in political science. He currently works in Senator Pat Toomey's district office in Pittsburgh. Ben enjoys reading, writing, sports, travel, and discipleship.

TAYCIE POWELL

HANNAH ROEHR

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

A recent graduate of Liberty University with a Bachelor's in Business Marketing, Taycie is currently pursuing a Master's degree at Harvard in Business Management. Taycie is the founder of The Golden Life, A Premier Golden Retriever Breeder that raises and personally delivers puppies nationwide. She is an avid fan of podcasts, books, sports, and all things outdoor.

Hannah is a senior at Arizona State University studying Business (Public Service & Public Policy). She has interned at the Arizona State Senate, Congressman Paul Gosar's D.C. Office, the Arizona State Treasurer's Office, and the Arizona Governor's Office. Hannah hopes to work either as a policy advisor or in communications promoting conservative social values, specifically school choice.

2020-2021 Academy

DINORA RUIZ

DAVID SELLERS

INDIE BIRTH MIDWIFERY SCHOOL

SOUTHERN STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Dinora's skill and passion for sewing began at 10 years old as she watched her mother sew. With trial, error and hours of study, her work as a seamstress has turned into a small business and favorite hobby. She had the opportunity to train with ACT for America, travel to Israel with Passages, lobby with CUFl, and serve with David’s Tent in D.C. Having served as a birth assistant and student midwife, her heart always goes back to supporting families.

David lives in southwestern Ohio. He is currently a freshman at Southern State Community College, pursuing a degree in pre-law and eventually a law degree. He has become experienced in search-andrescue as a second lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol, and has assisted in three successful missing person searches. He is a dedicated citizen activist, and an enthusiastic volunteer for the Convention of States Project.

WEBSTER SHEETS SELF EDUCATED

Webster is a passionate entrepreneur focused on promoting Christian character through programming and developing video games. He also specializes in web design and development for conservative nonprofits and political candidates. He is an avid programmer and enjoys learning about politics, math, and technology.

2020-2021 Academy

SARAH STEWART

VAN SUI

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

TAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Sarah Stewart is a native of West Virginia. She received her Associate Degree with a concentration in History from WVUP. She has a B.S. in Religious Studies as well as a M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Liberty University, and is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity in Christian Thought. Currently, Sarah works as a substitute teacher.

Van Sui graduated with a degree in political science, philosophy, & economics from Taylor University, and is currently working for the state of Indiana at the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority Department.

AYANA THOMAS LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

Ayana is the Program Associate at State Policy Network where she coordinates and provides support for key projects of the Leadership Development Initiative team. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Economics from Charleston Southern University. She is currently a graduate student of Liberty University, pursuing a Masters in Public Administration – Healthcare.

2020-2021 Academy

GABE WHEELER

LOGAN WHEELER

PURDUE UNIVERSITY

PURDUE UNIVERSITY

Gabe Wheeler is a student at Purdue University. He hails from Avon, Indiana and is currently studying Interdisciplinary Engineering and Management. He is a devout Christian and leader. He's attended many leadership conferences and takes opportunities to grow in his character. He is honored to be a part of the Forge academy this year, and is hopeful he can make life-impacting decisions and have great conversations with other strong conservatives.

Logan Wheeler is a Financial Counseling and Planning student at Purdue University. Logan values respect, honesty, and directness. He lives by the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself, and enjoys sharing the love of Jesus with others. He often spends his free time watching or playing football or basketball, making music, cooking, and playing chess.

CHRISTOPHER WILSON WEST POINT

Chris Wilson graduated from West Point and commissioned as an active duty Infantry Officer in 2018. After obtaining his Ranger Tab, Airborne wings, Air Assault Wings, SERE-C certification, and top secret/SCI clearance he became a Platoon Leader in the 101st Airborne Division. He is a skilled public speaker and has been pre-selected for a position in 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment following his current assignment.

IN MEMORIAM SPENCER SIMS (1990-2020) Spencer was a Software Engineer from Los Angeles, California. He grew up in the foster care system and was sent to an Adventist High School, where he met Jesus and his life of servant leadership began. He was a problem-solver and loved to solve problems by writing software. He attributed his creativity to the power of God in his life.

Spencer loved creating technology to help churches and to promote conservative values and improve peoples’ lives. He was driven to use his skills to advance the Kingdom of God. He desired to engage the culture for Christ, and make a difference in the field of technology. He was always willing to speak up, say what he believed, and stand up for Truth. He wanted to attend Forge to sharpen his skills and be able to be winsome for Christ in the areas of science and technology.

Spencer attended the 2020 Forge Leadership Summit on a full scholarship. He was offered a check to help cover the cost of a flight from the West Coast and he declined.

He told us to consider it a donation to the cause. Forge had made an impact on his life and he wished to pay it forward to others. This is who Spencer was. He was a generous servant leader with a heart for Christ and a heart for people. He was a joyous soul with a contagious personality.

Shortly after Spencer was accepted into the 2020-2021 Forge Mentorship Academy, he was killed in a tragic car accident. While his loss is felt deeply by the Forge staff and other Academy members, we rejoice in knowing that Spencer has entered into heaven for an eternity with his Savior. Recorded in John 11:25, Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, will live, even though they die.’ Today he lives in heaven.