Pellissippi State recognized as a Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting

Pellissippi State students and SEAL Coordinator Delnita Evans work a voter registration table in the Hardin Valley Campus Courtyard in fall 2022 — Pellissippi State Student Government Association President **Erin Russell,** student **Peyton Pettyjohn,** Student Engagement and Leadership Coordinator **Delnita Evans** and student **Maria Ortiz Quinones,** from left, set up and staff a voter registration table in the college’s Hardin Valley Campus Courtyard in September 2022.

Pellissippi State Community College is the only Tennessee community college that has been recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge as a 2022 ALL IN Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting.

The ALL IN Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting recognizes colleges and universities for making intentional efforts to increase student voter participation. Pellissippi State is one of five Tennessee colleges and universities recognized by ALL IN for

Participating in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge;
Sharing 2020 NSLVE Reports with campus voting data with ALL IN;
Developing and submitting a 2022 democratic engagement action plan with ALL IN; and

Having a current signatory to ALL IN’s Higher Education Presidents’ Commitment to Full Student Voter Participation.

The other Tennessee colleges that earned the distinction include Belmont University, East Tennessee State University, Tusculum University and University of Memphis.

“This well-deserved recognition is a testament to the great work of our Civic Engagement Committee organized through our Student Engagement and Leadership office,” said Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students Travis Loveday. “Their efforts to plan, organize and implement civic engagement programming and voter registration drives has increased the number of students who are actively engaging in the democratic process. This award affirms we are on the right path, and we will certainly look to build upon these successes.”

The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement. Campuses that join the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge complete a set of action items, with the support of ALL IN Challenge staff, to institutionalize nonpartisan civic learning, political engagement and voter participation on their campus.

“College student voter turnout has increased since 2016, and this increase has been driven by students,” said Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, executive director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. “These students registered voters, served on their campus voting coalitions, spearheaded voter education efforts, advocated for campus polling locations and organized other voter engagement efforts to ensure their peers were confident and informed voters.”

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