2024 Scholarship Recipient Spotlights:
Ava Britford & Caterina Tian-Svobodny
Name: Ava Britford
Where are you from? Columbus, OH
Where do you go to school? I am currently a junior attending Miami University. Love and Honor!
What professional, volunteer, or extra-curricular activities are you currently involved in? I am currently a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Lambda Mu Chapter, where I serve as the Social Action Chair. I am also involved with Ignite, a non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting participation in the political process. Additionally, I am a model for the Miami University Fashion and Design organization, and I volunteer weekly at a hospital with the Meals on Wheels program.
How did you hear about OWIG's Scholarship Program? This summer, I had the privilege of working in the office of the esteemed Representative Darnell T. Brewer, and it was through this opportunity that I was encouraged to apply.
What motivates you professionally? I am motivated by the historic inequalities faced by minority communities due to specific laws and policies. My goal is to understand these issues deeply and to educate these communities, empowering them to create a more equitable future.
What is one of your proudest accomplishments in your student career or personal life? I believe one of my greatest accomplishments is the breadth of my involvement. My interests are diverse, and I work hard to ensure that each of them is nurtured through my various commitments. This journey has provided me with a wealth of experiences, and I will have stories to tell.
What was the last show you binge-watched OR book you binge-read? I have been trying to get into anime to broaden my interests and Hunter X Hunter has been an amazing show, however, my next one will be the final season of Umbrella Academy.
What is your favorite place you’ve traveled OR what is at the top of your travel bucket list? One place to visit that is at the top of my bucket list is Egypt.
What does receiving OWIG's Statehouse Scholarship mean to you? Receiving this scholarship means that I have the support and encouragement to continue pursuing my degree. It allows me to gain the experience necessary to live the life I've worked so hard to create for myself. I now have the opportunity to study abroad, focusing on Law and Policy in London. Without this scholarship, I wouldn't have even dreamed of such an experience, let alone have the chance to make it a reality.
Name: Caterina Tian-Svobodny
Where are you from? Dayton, OH
Where do you go to school? Vanderbilt University
What professional, volunteer, or extra-curricular activities are you currently involved in? Aside from my internship at the Statehouse, I also work as a Digital Media Intern at the Vanderbilt Center for Languages, where I facilitate events and foster interest in language courses/degree programs. I serve as an executive board member for Generation Action for Planned Parenthood, Events Coordinator for our on-campus radio station WRVU, and Co-President of the Vanderbilt Swim Club. I am also a member of a business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi, and have recently joined Moot Court to compete in the American Moot Court Association (AMCA) national-level Oral Argument!
How did you hear about OWIG's Scholarship Program? The legislative aide for my representative let me know about this opportunity!
What motivates you professionally? I am motivated thus far to pursue a career in law and public advocacy. From my work in grassroots advocacy for reproductive justice with my campus organization Generation Action to the realities of marginalized communities I grew to be aware of in my hometown, I am excited by this career path as a way to utilize my skills and passions in a way that would impact and benefit more people than just myself.
What is one of your proudest accomplishments in your student career or personal life? One of the proudest accomplishments occurred this May 2024. My professor of Constitutional Law advertised the application to serve as a delegate at the inaugural Model Constitutional Convention at Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law. I was selected as an Ohio delegate from a diverse and competitive pool of undergraduate and law students across the country, and in preparation drafted a proposal barring political gerrymandering. This was an issue I felt represented bi-partisan movements in Ohio and across the country. At the convention, I successfully argued, defended, and negotiated my proposal; it passed through committee and was ultimately only one of four amendments "adopted" into the Constitution by the convention.
What was the last show you binge-watched OR book you binge-read? I've recently re-watched Arrested Development for the second time, it's one of my all-time favorite shows.
What is your favorite place you’ve traveled OR what is at the top of your travel bucket list? My favorite place I've traveled out of the country would probably be Shanghai; it's such a beautiful and lively city. I hope to visit Europe someday, and might be studying in Paris this spring!
What does receiving OWIG's Statehouse Scholarship mean to you? Receiving this scholarship is a truly great honor. I am humbled to have been able to serve as a legislative intern at the Statehouse and to learn about and contribute to policy work in my own state. This scholarship alleviates the financial burden associated and motivates me to continue in my professional journey. I am excited to be a part of this community that uplifts women in government!