Undergraduate Research Scholar takes on challenges, gains hands-on experience

Abby Waechter stands behind a podium in a White House press room

For nearly two decades, the Voinovich Undergraduate Research Scholars Program has given 51�� students a front-row seat to the real work of public service.

The program at the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service places undergraduate students on staff and faculty-led research and community development projects, offering hands-on experience with immediate, real-world impact.

Abby Waechter ’26, a native of Mason, Ohio, served as a Voinovich Undergraduate Research Scholar for the 2024-25 school year, joining the Dean’s Office in the Voinovich School. In her role, Waechter helped to promote the work of the projects and efforts the school undertakes for the betterment of life in Southeast Ohio.

A strategic communications major in the Scripps College of Communication, Waechter found her year as a scholar extremely rewarding and pertinent to future plans

“I think what I do with the Voinovich School is storytelling with a strategy behind it,” she says. “And that's exactly what I want to do after graduation.”

As a research scholar, Waechter wrote stories on Voinovich School programs. She highlighted topics like the Mayors’ Partnership for Progress and small businesses like Miller’s Orthopedics in Belpre, Ohio, which used the Voinovich School’s expertise to help secure a lucrative contract with the Veterans Administration. She also analyzed the cybersecurity efforts of the school’s APEX Accelerator program.

Abby Waechter is shown on the red carpet at the White House Correspondents Dinner

Waechter parlayed her experience at the Voinovich School into being selected as a White House Correspondent Association Scholarship recipient. This honor earned her an invitation to attend the annual White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington, D.C., at the end of April. Waechter was one of three 51�� attendees.

In Washington, Waechter received a close-up look at the inner workings of Washington media, meeting with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, listening to a presentation by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, and talking with high-profile journalists such as Kristen Welker and Andrea Mitchell of NBC.

“Everyone was so welcoming, it was a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” she says. “We took full advantage and met everyone we possibly could, so it was a really good networking opportunity.”

This summer, Waechter will intern at RTX Technology in the crisis communications department before returning to Athens— as a Voinovich Undergraduate Research Scholar—for her senior year.

“It's been cool to learn about and be able to share stories from people all around Southeast Ohio,” she says. “I think my job with the Voinovich School has done a great job in preparing me for my career.”

Tags: