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Raritan Valley Community College student Manuela Bulgaro has been named the Engage NJ Kesselman Fellow for the Advancement of Democracy for the 2025-2026 academic year, it was announced recently by The Pray Family Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement at RVCC.

In that role, Bulgaro, a second-year Honors College student majoring in Social Sciences, will co-develop the project, The Republic We Keep, A Podcast on American Systems, Voices, & Values.

The Republic We Keep is a student-led civic podcast created by Bulgaro and Aiden Annis, a Rutgers University sophomore who is majoring in Electrical Engineering and minoring in Political Science. The Fellowship includes a $1,000 honorarium to support the project during the upcoming academic year.

"Former Engage NJ board chair and president of Stockton University, Dr. Harvey Kesselman, continues even now in retirement to be an advocate for the advancement of human rights. RVCC's Kesselman Fellows seek to walk a similar path with their project called, The Republic We Keep. And so, when I look to the future state of justice and opportunity here in New Jersey, I am confident that Manuela and Aiden will be the future we want to see for our citizenry,” said  Dr. Saul Petersen, Executive Director, Engage NJ.

In addition to the honorarium, the Fellowship will provide professional pathway coaching and the chance to participate in a series of skills development opportunities focusing on such areas as consensus-building, public speaking, and professional communication, designed to meet students’ self-identified needs. Bulgaro and Annis also will have the opportunity to work with other student Fellows nationwide.

RVCC is a longtime member of Engage NJ, a consortium of colleges and universities throughout the state that is providing the support.

Through honest and thoughtful conversations, The Republic We Keep podcast created by Bulgaro and Annis focuses on how American systems—such as healthcare, education, justice, and immigration—impact people’s lives and explores what it takes to build a more informed and engaged generation of citizens.

By sharing real stories and expert voices, the podcast is designed to build civic literacy, spark intergenerational dialogue, and connect Gen Z to the systems that shape its lives. The podcast presents arguments from both sides of various political topics, encouraging audiences to think critically, and fostering dialogue across generations and political identities. To learn more about the podcast, visit https://www.therepublicwekeep.com/.

About the Kesselman Student Fellowships

The Kesselman Student Fellowships were launched in 2022 to empower teams of students to work on local community projects that find solutions to issues affecting the local area. In doing this, teams are expected to connect with people across differences and to remove barriers blocking societal and environmental progress. The fellowships are so named to honor Dr. Harvey Kesselman, former president of Stockton University, long-serving board member of Engage NJ, and a staunch advocate and change agent for the advancement of human rights across the Garden State.

About RVCC

Ranked by WalletHub.com, Intelligent.com, and CollegeEvaluator.com as the #1 community college in New Jersey, Raritan Valley Community College has been serving as an academic and cultural center for Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for over 50 years. The College has been nationally recognized for its service to the community and environmental stewardship. It is home to  a Planetarium, Science Education Institute, and 3M Observatory; a Theatre offering professional performances for all ages; and an Honors College for high achieving students.

The College offers approximately 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training and professional development courses. RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 5, 2025

Media contact: Donna Stolzer, 908-526-1200, ext. 8383

PR #5