Troy High Alum Appointed to MI Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force

Troy High Alum Appointed to Michigan’s Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force

Hemanth Tadepalli (THS Class of 2019 and current Kettering University student) joins 24 other students on the Michigan Department of State’s Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced April 22.

The task force is charged with determining and implementing recommendations to improve voter education and engagement among young people on college and university campuses statewide.

“This is a critical time in our nation’s democracy, and it is vital that student voices are at the table,” Benson said in a news release. “The task force will play an important role empowering and engaging student voters across Michigan to ensure their voices are heard on Election Day and beyond. I look forward to their recommendations and supporting their work to improve voter education, engagement and participation among young people.”

The students were selected from a pool of nearly 200 applicants. Tadepalli is the only Kettering student on the task force, which represents 18 community colleges, colleges and universities.

He said he pursued the task force appointment after serving in various positions at different levels of government. His experience includes serving as a representative appointed by the mayor on the Troy City Planning Commission, working as deputy campaign manager for Troy Mayor Ethan Baker, and interning with the Sierra Club, where he was the liaison to U.S. Sen. Gary Peters’ office.

“These experiences involved lots of research and constituent services, which ranged from environmental policy analysis to many social issues people were facing,” Tadepalli said. “I learned what issues citizens were facing and understood what steps need to be taken to protect the future of democracy. I wanted to be a part of the task force so I can act as a bridge between faculty, staff and students at the University and the state department of Michigan.”

Tadepalli also credits his time at Troy High School, especially his history classes such as AP Government with Mr. Ryan Werenka as well as computer science classes with Mr. Joe Moceri. He also says that being a part of THS’ many clubs helped guide him along on this journey.

He said he also wants to increase voter education on campus so students can get an understanding of how bills and policies affect them and why they matter for the future.

To be selected for the task force is an honor, Tadepalli said, and he already has ideas to take to the group: “I feel it is important to focus on increasing voter education in various proposed policies to solve issues that are nonpartisan and will help students understand how important it is to vote.” After graduating from Kettering Tadepalli wants to pursue a Master’s degree in Cybersecurity or Management, and also hopes to serve in a political office, which he believes can work hand-in-hand.

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Photo courtesy of Troy Schools and Hemanth Tadepalli