Hillhouse Voter Registration Drive

NEW HAVEN – JAG students from Hillhouse worked numerous hours to plan and execute a voter registration drive for all upperclassmen that resulted in over 40 new registered voters. Students spent multiple days in the cafe during lunch waves encouraging their fellow classmates to register.

And with additional support from the Social Studies department, that number is expected to increase.

In the weeks leading up to the voter registration drive, students worked to create a special Public Service Announcement that played on the Hillhouse News. Collectively, students worked on a script to highlight the message they wanted to convey and videotaped a couple of sessions to bring it all together. A few individuals stood out as the process unfolded.

Students were fortunate to get the help of Hillhouse graduate Troy Oliver, who returned to assist students through the PSA creation process. Oliver is currently a music producer, songwriter, and composer who has worked with the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, and several others. Oliver’s work can be found at: http://www.discogs.com/artist/210464-Troy-Oliver.

Oliver added a musical interlude after senior Joshua Thammavongsa went above and beyond to edit a quality finished product. Also, thanks to Dania Rodriguez, De’Hja Ellis, and Kentori Brown, who agreed to be videotaped for the PSA, and to Ashley Vigio and Kyanna Sammy, who spent time at the voter registration table helping fellow students fill out the right information.