Connor Phillips ’28 had a good excuse for missing orientation and the first week of classes. He was padding his resume.
Phillips attended the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago in August, where he served as a page for the Indiana delegation.
“It was an outstanding experience,” Phillips said. “I’m very fortunate to have been selected to go.”
The freshman and budding politician from Portage, Indiana, has already amassed impressive experience in the world of politics. At 16, he canvassed and made phone calls for local candidates. Last summer, he interned for Austin Bonta, the Portage mayor.
His experience at the DNC opened his eyes to the inner workings of politics on a national and deepened his desire to make a difference. Reflecting on his time at the DNC, Connor was struck by how organized and seamlessly the event moved.
“They really had it together,” Phillips said. “It was a phenomenal four days. Being up close and personal, getting to meet a lot of people, bumping shoulders, it was amazing.”
The event not only gave him an up-close view of how a major political convention operates, but allowed him to meet influential figures like Democratic National Committee Chairman Jamie Harrison, and New York Congressman Pat Ryan.
“I walked the hallways a few times each day and every time I’d see a senator or a congressman that I recognized,” Phillips said. “I could approach them and ask for advice. Most times I was told to keep doing what I’m doing and stay involved.”
Beyond meeting prominent leaders, Phillips’ role at the DNC provided him with behind-the-scenes insights. He helped manage credentials and guest passes for the event, gaining a first-hand look at the coordination required to run a large-scale event. He realized that the small tasks often carry great impact.
“To hear leaders from rural, urban, and suburban parts of the country come together and talk about their experiences and what motivates them is inspiring,” he said. “Much of what we do is for the betterment of our communities, whoever we serve. Knowing the local codes that affect road maintenance can help people. It matters. That’s why we do this.”
Phillips was drawn to Wabash because of its personalized learning environment. The small classes allow him to directly approach professors, as was the case when he reached out to Prof. Scott Himsel about the opportunity at the DNC.
“I was thrilled that any future freshman student of mine was going to attend a national political convention,” said Himsel, associate professor of political science. “That’s a life experience that is hard to beat at any age, especially if one is seeking a career in politics.”
Already immersed in politics, Phillips hopes to take advantage of the resources Wabash has to offer, eyeing the Wabash Democracy and Public Discourse initiative and Moot Court. He is eager to improve the skills that could benefit someone with public service goals in the future.
“I want to be a better communicator and debater,” he said. “I’m interested in improving myself in every way. I came to Wabash because I want to be the best person I can by the time I graduate.”
Now back on campus, his immediate goals are simply fitting into campus. Phillips’ DNC experience has paid off for his classmates, according to Himsel. In his freshman tutorial, the class was studying whether lessons from our nation’s founders can be applied to improve the current state of American politics.
“Connor was kind enough to share his experiences with our freshman tutorial group when he returned,” Himsel said. “Not surprisingly given his great interest in politics, Connor has been an active and energized participant.”