Baylor's Abshire Fellows Study Leadership, Ethics, Honor, and Service in D.C.

This year's Abshire group is pictured at the Pentagon with Major Brandon Eaves ’10, Branch Chief, Office of the Chief Information Officer, USAF; and Andrew Winternitz '95, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), Principal Director for East Asia Policy.

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Fifteen students from the Class of 2026 were selected to travel to Washington, D.C. in June for an intensive eight-day experiential course of study on national leadership, ethics, honor, and service.

As participants in the David M. Abshire Civic Leadership Trip, they were engaged in meaningful leadership discussions and experiential learning while discovering more about careers of Baylor alumni in the area.  Highlights included visiting the Pentagon, the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, the U.S. Department of Justice, and attending an alumni event before enjoying a Nationals baseball game. 

The trip was created in partnership with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and the late Dr. Abshire ’44, who served as president and CEO of that organization. Since its inaugural trip in 2009, Abshire Scholars have traveled to the nation's capital, living together for a week and participating in a variety of activities and leadership opportunities while also enjoying tours of government buildings and national landmarks. 

Alumni professionals participating in this year's program were Ridley Browder ’20, Brandon Eaves ’10, Isabelle Drayer ’18, Linc Fuge '01, Del Gilmore ’88, Sam Lupas ’14, Bharet Malhotra ’93, Ali Nettles ’17, Brian Northcutt ’91, Ryan Moore ’98, Mary Elizabeth Clements McKenney ’16, Sarah Paden ’04, Nate Rawlings ’00, and Andrew Winternitz ’95.