Sixteen college-age women will participate in leadership exercises during the third annual NEW Leadership Illinois program in Chicago June 3-8, 2008.

CHICAGO - Sixteen college-age women will participate in leadership exercises that include a mock legislative hearing during the third annual NEW Leadership Illinois program in Chicago June 3-8, 2008.

Sponsored by the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois and the Conference of Women Legislators in the Illinois General Assembly, NEW Leadership Illinois challenges our brightest students to think critically and creatively about public policy and encourages them to make a commitment to public leadership early in their careers. Participants in the conference spend five days immersed in discussions and exercises with government leaders, legislators and educators from the University. The sessions will focus on leadership, politics and policy skills and will be held on the University of Illinois at Chicago campus.

"The young women in the NEW Leadership program have the chance to experience the challenges, importance, and rewarding nature of public life," said Robert F. Rich, director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs. "IGPA values its partnership with the Conference of Women Legislators in this important effort to attract young women to careers in public service."

 The women selected for this year's program were chosen based upon their academic interests and record, responses to specific essay questions and letters of recommendation. The 16 women are: Phaydra Babinchok of Northeastern Illinois University; Stephanie Baliga, Renee Chacko, Kari Hardenbrook, Nicole Kraus and Rebecca Remke of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Ashley Dearborn of Northwestern University; Michele D'Onofrio and Sandy Kim of Loyola University; Christine Gibbs of Illinois Wesleyan University; Sagung Kertayuda of Oakton College; Linnea Larson of Knox College; Rebecca Lindstrom of McKendree University; Kellen Marshal of Chicago State University; Constance Vann of Governors State University and Bethany Neal of the College of DuPage.

The NEW Leadership Illinois program is affiliated with the National Education for Women's Leadership Development Network, which was created by the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.