Six Gators chosen for governor’s program

August 17, 2011

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Six current University of Florida students or recent alumni have been chosen for the seventh class of the Gubernatorial Fellowship Program in Florida. Students participating in the program will gain first-hand experience into how state government operates.

“I applaud these outstanding students for their hard work and commitment to improving our state’s government,” Gov. Rick Scott stated in a news release. “This program provides an excellent opportunity for students to learn about the functions of government and ways to make it more efficient and effective.”

Students were selected based on a competitive application process and their ability to show strong leadership, written and oral communication skills, community activism and a desire to serve the people of Florida. They will work in the executive office of the governor or in the governor’s agencies, depending on their area of study. Fellows will be expected to work a minimum of 20 hours each week and will receive an hourly wage for their time on the job.

To broaden their exposure to state government and enhance their experience, they will also meet weekly as a group to participate in educational activities such as presentations, press conferences, budget briefings and policy briefings.

The Gators are among 13 students selected as the seventh Gubernatorial Fellows class. They are:

• Matthew Christ, 21, of Santa Rosa Beach, senior in political science.

• Marcus L. Dixon, 22, of Miami, graduate student in public administration at Florida State University. He holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and public relations from UF.

• Clarence “Hal” Houston, 27, of Jacksonville, a third-year law student. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UF.

• Heather Houston, 26, of Howey-in-the-Hills, graduate student in mass communications, specializing in political communication. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications/news from UF.

• Kristin Klein, 24, of Gainesville, senior in political science and food and resource economics.

• James VanLandingham, 28, of Tallahassee, second-year law student at Florida State University. He holds bachelor’s degrees in journalism and political science from UF and a master’s degree in public administration from FSU.

The program began this week and ends May 11, 2012. Students are enrolled in classes either at Florida State University or Florida A&M University in Tallahassee or through distance learning courses provided by their home institutions.