Two UF students named Gubernatorial Fellows

July 14, 2006

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Gov. Jeb Bush has named two University of Florida students to the 2006-07 Gubernatorial Fellows class.

Eual Tyler Cathey of Jacksonville and Kevin Barrett of Miami were part of a group of 10 students statewide chosen to the program, created by Bush in 2004 to provide leadership training to outstanding Florida students interested in public service.

Students were selected for the program based on outstanding academic achievement, strong communication skills, university and community activism, leadership capability, a working knowledge of government and a desire to serve the people of Florida.

Cathey and Barrett will be matched with different projects within the state government according to their expertise to maximize their experience and their contributions to the program. Fellows are required to work 20 hours a week and will be expected to attend weekly lecture series as well as additional government activities, such as policy and budget briefings or press conferences.

Barrett, 20, is a third-year criminology major. He said he is excited about the fellowship but also a little overwhelmed at being honored his first time applying.

“This is a big honor that comes with a lot of responsibility, and sometimes I feel like it is a bit more than I can handle,” Barrett said. “I just remind myself that I was chosen for a reason and that somebody up in Tallahassee must have believed that I could do the job.”

Cathey, 26, is a second-year law student. He said one thing that drew him to the program was that it was a fellowship and not an internship.

“Fellows are encouraged and expected to make the experience uniquely their own rather than coming in and doing the same work that a different intern does every year,” Cathey said. “It is an opportunity to take a project and make it reflect your own ideas and craft it as creatively as you can, even to the point of designing your own project.”
While their assignments in Tallahassee remain unknown, Cathey said he would like to work in the governor’s law office, the Department of Education or on a piece of legislation. Barrett also is taking his time to make the right selection.

“I have so many goals and expectations for this program and hope to gain professional work experience, network connections and narrow down what I want to do for the rest of my life,” Barrett said. “Basically, I am open to any and every experience that this great opportunity has to offer.”

Cathey has his eye on the Hoffman Foundation endowment, which is awarded at the end of the year to the fellow who made the greatest contribution or had the largest impact and helps fund the program. But he has some more immediate matters to deal with first. “I hope to learn how to tie a tie, shine my shoes and commute back to Gainesville each week during football season without getting a speeding ticket,” Cathey said. “I’m excited to represent UF amongst all those Seminoles.”