Secondary education student Eric Veal Jr. selected for The Washington Program

The Institute for Responsible Citizenship has announced The Washington Program class of 2025, comprising twelve exceptional African American male college students from across the U.S., including the Marsal Family School of Education’s own Eric Veal Jr.

A sophomore hailing from Chicago, Veal is pursuing a dual degree in political science and secondary education. He has a deep desire to foster equitable and culturally reflective classrooms. In high school, he was elected president of the Student State Board for the Illinois State Board of Education and was appointed by the Governor of Illinois as the first student Co-chair of the Illinois Educational Equity Committee. Additionally, he serves as a member of the Illinois Department of Human Rights and the Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes Youth.

Based in the nation’s capital, the highly selective Washington Program is a two-summer program in which scholars live together in a university residence hall and work at high-level internships in their fields of interest. They participate in a challenging seminar on economic and constitutional principles, engage in private meetings with prominent leaders from both the public and private sectors, attend personal and professional development workshops, and enjoy a variety of social activities. The experience is designed to prepare participants for impactful lives and careers.

“This opportunity is a tremendous honor,” says Veal. “I look forward to working in my passion area of educational equity and policy in Washington DC. I look forward to advocating for students around our country and advocating for a new and revolutionized school system that serves all students. I believe it is time we rethink how our educational institutions work because it is time for a change and a system centered on students.”