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Raritan Valley Community College student Steven Reffler of Green Brook Township is one of  175 college students being recognized nationally for their nonpartisan democratic engagement work in 2022.

Reffler, a Business Administration major, is being honored by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) as part of the 2023 ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll. The ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll awards college students doing outstanding work to advance nonpartisan democratic engagement at participating campuses. Reffler joins a group of 175 students recognized for their voter registration, education, and turnout efforts ahead of last year’s historic midterm elections. The 2022 midterm elections saw one of the highest youth turnout rates for a midterm election in the past 40 years — an estimated 23 percent of young people ages 18-29 turned out to vote.

At RVCC, Reffler is Chairman of RVotesMatter (ALL IN CHALLENGE), leading the efforts to provide non-partisan political education to the student body. This includes organizing various events and engaging in event-planning to encourage political involvement and promote active participation in the democratic process. In addition, he assists students in registering to vote, recognizing the importance of exercising their right to vote and having their voices heard.

“I am passionate about ensuring that my generation is actively involved in shaping our nation's future. My goal is to inspire and educate students about their civic responsibilities. I believe this will establish a culture of engagement where every student feels empowered to participate in the democratic process, regardless of their political beliefs,” says Reffler, who Chairs the Student Government Association (SGA) Election Committee at RVCC.

Reffler also serves as SGA Vice President of Finance and Co-Chairs Soles4Souls, a charity shoe drive that benefits those in need in developing countries. After graduating from RVCC in May, he plans to transfer to The College of New Jersey, where he intends to major in Accounting and minor in Information Systems & Technology.

“This year’s honorees played a crucial part in registering and empowering student voters ahead of last year’s midterm elections, resulting in historic turnout among young voters. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge is honored to celebrate hundreds of student leaders encouraging nonpartisan democratic engagement across the country,” said Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, Executive Director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. “These students organized voter registration drives, coordinated campus-wide voter engagement resources, and brought polling locations to their campuses. We are excited to watch these students continue to change the world.”

The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement. With the support of the ALL IN staff, campuses that join the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge complete a set of action items to institutionalize nonpartisan civic learning, political engagement and voter participation on their campus. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge currently engages more than 9.8 million students from more than 965 institutions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Campuses may join by visiting https://allinchallenge.org/join/.

ABOUT ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge:

ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement. Through an intentionally designed program that provides structure, support, and recognition, ALL IN works to improve civic learning, political engagement, and voter participation on more than 965 campuses nationwide. ALL IN believes higher education should play a role in developing an active and informed citizenry by educating students, motivating them to engage in American democracy, and instilling the value of lifelong participation. ALL IN is an initiative of Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. To learn more, visit https://allinchallenge.org/.


ABOUT RVCC

Ranked by WalletHub.com and Intelligent.com as the #1 community college in New Jersey, Raritan Valley Community College has been serving as an academic and cultural center for Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for over 50 years. The College has been nationally recognized for its service to the community, environmental stewardship, and commitment to diversity. It is home to  a Planetarium, Science Education Institute and 3M Observatory; a Theatre offering professional performances for all ages; and an Honors College for high achieving students.

The College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training and professional development courses. RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.



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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 27, 2023

Media contact: Donna Stolzer, 908-526-1200, ext. 8383

PR #133