EAST STROUDSBURG - ESU political science majors Will Fritz, a junior from East Stroudsburg, and Lauren Zrillo, a sophomore from Stroudsburg, are among the nearly 450 students from 164 colleges and universities who will attend the National Political Conventions later this summer as part of the Washington Center’s Campaign 2008 National Political Conventions academic seminar series.  Fritz will attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colo., and Zrillo will attend the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.

“The opportunity to be at one of the national political conventions in an open election year usually happens only once in a generation,” Dr. Eugene Alpert, senior vice president of The Washington Center, said. “The Washington Center is pleased to be able to offer students and faculty a chance to be a part of American history in the making.  It will be an experience they will tell their grandchildren about and will remember their entire lives.”

Both Fritz and Zrillo will arrive early to their destination cities for a week of academic seminars and lectures in advance of the conventions to learn about the political process and the role the event plays in the selection of a party’s presidential and vice-presidential nominees.  Speakers for this year’s programs are still being finalized, but past speakers in The Washington Center’s National Convention programs have included C-SPAN’s Brian Lamb, Bob Schieffer of CBS News, Sam Donaldson of ABC News, and past political party chairs, among others.