Eight Florida State University Students Selected as 2010 Florida Gubernatorial Fellows

By Barry Ray

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Eight Florida State University students have been selected by Gov. Charlie Crist as 2010 Gubernatorial Fellows. With just 13 students tapped from the state’s colleges and universities, Florida State is exceptionally well represented in the state’s most prestigious program for leadership in public service.

The following eight Florida State students have been selected as 2010 Gubernatorial Fellows:

• Roger “Beau” Beaubien, 27, of Tampa, Fla., a second-year law student.

• Reginald Cuyler, 22, of Orlando, Fla., a graduate student in public administration. (He also holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Florida State.)

• Megan Duda, 22, of Oviedo, Fla., a graduate student in public administration.

• Andrew Johnson, 27, of Palm Harbor, Fla., a graduate student pursuing degrees in both urban and regional planning and public administration. (He also holds bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and political science from Florida State.)

• Tara Klimek, 33, of Tallahassee, a second-year law student.

• Christopher Land, 22, of Panama City, Fla., a senior majoring in history and political science.

• Erin Simmons, 22, of Argyle, Texas, a graduate student in biology, ecology and marine science. (She also holds a bachelor’s degree in biological science from Florida State.)

• Artrease Spann, 27, of Albany, Ga., a doctoral candidate in chemistry and biochemistry.

Established in 2004, the Gubernatorial Fellows program immerses students in key areas of government, including the Executive Office of the Governor and the governor’s agencies, giving future leaders firsthand, high-level training as well as valuable experience and insight into government and how it works.

“I commend these outstanding students for their achievements in the classroom and their enthusiasm for serving the people of Florida,” Crist said. “Public service is an honor, as well as a great responsibility, and the Gubernatorial Fellows program is a unique way for students to gain valuable on-the-job experience while learning about the positive impact public service has on the lives of all Floridians.”

Each Gubernatorial Fellow’s specific expertise is matched with projects to maximize the experience for the student and the contributions he or she will make to state government.

Fellows work a minimum of 20 hours per week and are paid for their work. All fellows also participate in a weekly lecture series with government officials including the governor, members of the Florida Cabinet and senior staff members. Gubernatorial Fellows are treated as high-level staff and are expected to participate and perform at that level.

Successful candidates for the highly competitive program have demonstrated strong leadership skills, outstanding academic achievement, community and university activism, and a desire to serve the people of Florida.

“For the remarkable students who have been selected as Gubernatorial Fellows, this program offers an incredible opportunity to gain professional experience in public service,” said Anne Marie West, director of the Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards at Florida State. “Our FSU students are not only engaged in the community but are emerging as future leaders for our state.”

The Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards assists currently enrolled Florida State University graduate students in obtaining external funding such as Gubernatorial Fellowships. External sponsors, from foundations to agencies, recognize graduate student excellence through nationally competitive awards. This type of merit-based funding offers resources for graduate students to conduct research, participate in programs, and further their studies.