W&L Students Attend National Conservative Student Conference

(From left, W&L students Jada Arredondo ’29, Lydia Ruffin ’29, Anna Tekenbroek ’29, and Daniel Straub ’28 attend the annual National Conservative Student Conference in Washington, D.C. | The Redoubt)

A group of Washington and Lee students heard from some of the country’s leading conservative voices last month, thanks to sponsorship by The Generals Redoubt. The students attended the Young America’s Foundation (YAF) National Conservative Student Conference, an annual three-day gathering of conservative college students from across the country.

The conference opened August 6 at George Washington’s Mount Vernon with remarks from former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, president of YAF. Walker focused on the importance of protecting free speech and maintaining American exceptionalism, setting the tone for three days of discussions about American principles, politics, culture, and the responsibilities of the next generation.

The opening night was particularly memorable for Daniel Straub ’28.

“There was something pretty incredible about discussing the country's future in a place so closely tied to its beginnings,” Straub said.

As the conference continued, conversations among students turned toward a question that extended beyond any particular political issue: how young people decide what information to trust. Straub and the other W&L attendees discussed how they stay informed, which media outlets and commentators they follow, and how the freedoms of speech and press relate to the responsibility to seek reliable information and pursue the truth for themselves.

“I came back with a lot to think about and a sense that the ideas we inherit only really matter if our generation decides to do something with them,” Straub said.

The conference continued August 7 with speakers from across the conservative movement, including Ben Shapiro, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Isabel Brown, Andrew Klavan, former Virginia Governor George Allen, and former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares.

Miyares spoke about the freedoms and responsibilities associated with being an American, remarks that particularly resonated with Anna Tekenbroek ’29. Tekenbroek, who spent the summer interning in Washington, D.C., connected his remarks to the nation’s ongoing celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence.

“As the nation reflects upon its historic 250th birthday, his remarks serve as a powerful reminder of the responsibility we have to maintain the principles established by our founding fathers,” Tekenbroek said.

For Lydia Ruffin ’29, the YAF conference was her first step into political engagement.

“Since attending, I now feel better equipped for discussions on my campus and inspired to learn more conservative ideas,” Ruffin said.

Ruffin will put that experience into practice this year through W&L’s participation in the Deliberative Citizenship Network (DCN), an intercollegiate initiative launched by Davidson College to promote deliberation, civil discourse, and respectful disagreement.

Jada Arredondo ’29, another of the W&L students TGR sponsored, is also working with the DCN as one of Professor Lucas Morel’s Liberating Ideas Fellows. The YAF conference gave her an opportunity to engage with students from across the country and encounter disagreements within the conservative movement itself.

Those conversations challenged Arredondo to look beyond areas of broad political agreement and consider the range of perspectives among students who shared many of the same principles.

“Having conversations with several students and interns around D.C. made me realize I still have so much to learn about the ongoing differences within the Republican Party, as well as American history and topics that aren’t always talked about,” Arredondo said.

For The Generals Redoubt, sponsoring students’ participation in programs like YAF’s conference is part of a broader effort to give W&L students opportunities to encounter new perspectives, develop their ideas, and participate actively in the intellectual life of the University. TGR has similarly supported student programming over the years through the Franklin Society, the 2024 Mock Convention, and numerous guest speakers.

“TGR’s support provides the resources necessary for students like myself to thoughtfully engage with the pressing issues facing our campus, nation, and beyond,” Tekenbroek said.

As the four students return to W&L, they bring with them new ideas, relationships, and questions — and new opportunities to put their experience in Washington into practice.

The Generals Redoubt will also sponsor W&L students to attend YAF’s Texas Youth Summit during Reading Days this October. Students interested in attending are encouraged to contact us.