Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern student-athletes and staff support voter registration initiative through programming and volunteerism
Northwestern Student-Athletes and Staff Support Voter Registration Initiative Through Programming and Volunteerism
11/30/2020 9:28:00 AM | 'Cats Give Back
Sponsored by Northwestern Medicine, the 'Cats Give Back program seeks to enhance the overall educational experience of student-athletes by connecting Wildcats to service-oriented and philanthropic activities in the Evanston and Chicagoland communities.
As part of the Big Ten Conference initiative to empower student-athletes through voter registration, nine student-athletes launched the department's inaugural voter registration and civic engagement committee. Beginning in late spring, committee members began meeting on a regular basis to build education and awareness around voter registration.
In order to achieve this, committee members worked closely with the Center for Civic Engagement to promote a Voting 101 session, a program that provided basic information on the registration and voting process. Through weekly communications detailing voter resources on campus, a registration challenge on social media and video content, more than 60% of Northwestern's athletic programs successfully registered to vote.
Kayla Fortino, a sophomore on the cross country team and member of the voter registration and civic engagement committee talked about the importance of getting involved when she said, "as student-athletes we have a platform where we can really get involved in local and national politics, and it's our responsibility to highlight findings from those experiences with others." In addition to her involvement on the committee, Fortino and several of her teammates signed-up to become a poll worker.
Northwestern University Department of Athletics and Recreation staff members were also active in the election process. Assistant Director for Marketing, Kathryn Dillon, volunteered to be a poll worker on election day. She assisted by prepping the facility, signing-in voters and issuing ballots. Given the shortage in poll workers this year due to the pandemic, Dillon noted, "I was happy to contribute skills and knowledge to something bigger than myself."
As part of this year's 'Cats Give Back programming, one community outreach initiative will be featured every month through the 12 Months of Giving program.
As part of the Big Ten Conference initiative to empower student-athletes through voter registration, nine student-athletes launched the department's inaugural voter registration and civic engagement committee. Beginning in late spring, committee members began meeting on a regular basis to build education and awareness around voter registration.
In order to achieve this, committee members worked closely with the Center for Civic Engagement to promote a Voting 101 session, a program that provided basic information on the registration and voting process. Through weekly communications detailing voter resources on campus, a registration challenge on social media and video content, more than 60% of Northwestern's athletic programs successfully registered to vote.
Kayla Fortino, a sophomore on the cross country team and member of the voter registration and civic engagement committee talked about the importance of getting involved when she said, "as student-athletes we have a platform where we can really get involved in local and national politics, and it's our responsibility to highlight findings from those experiences with others." In addition to her involvement on the committee, Fortino and several of her teammates signed-up to become a poll worker.
Northwestern University Department of Athletics and Recreation staff members were also active in the election process. Assistant Director for Marketing, Kathryn Dillon, volunteered to be a poll worker on election day. She assisted by prepping the facility, signing-in voters and issuing ballots. Given the shortage in poll workers this year due to the pandemic, Dillon noted, "I was happy to contribute skills and knowledge to something bigger than myself."
As part of this year's 'Cats Give Back programming, one community outreach initiative will be featured every month through the 12 Months of Giving program.
'Cats Give Back - Family Focus of Evanston Food Drive (12/6/19)
Friday, December 06
Swimming & Diving - Breast Stroke for Breast Cancer
Wednesday, December 04
Northwestern Community Service Day 2017
Tuesday, June 13
'Cats Give Back - Softball Volunteers with Toys for Tots
Wednesday, November 30
