I am pleased to nominate Urban Stewart, a remarkable student at Arizona State University who has overcome extraordinary challenges to pursue his education and elevate those around him. Urban left school after 4th grade in order to work full-time and, despite overwhelming obstacles, ultimately completed his GED and went on to obtain his associate's degree. Urban is now pursuing dual bachelor's degrees in Global Politics and Business Management from the W. P. Carey School of Business at ASU. In addition to relentlessly pursuing his own education, Urban has dedicated his life to advancing political participation and civic engagement, particularly among the millennial generation of which he is a part.

Recognizing that many of his peers were not engaged in democratic processes or even aware of many public issues which impact them directly, Urban created a social venture called MyGovUSA.org - an interactive social media platform that empowers users to vote on and share information about state level policy issues. Additionally, Urban assembled a coalition of partner organizations throughout ASU to collaboratively organize a university-wide student-led Civic Engagement Summit this Spring. The event will engage over 300 students in a day-long dialogue-based experience designed to promote a peer culture of civic engagement on campus and invite students to make personal commitments to action.

Urban's pledge to help others develop their civic identities and deepen their confidence in our democracy is timely and urgently needed as partisan politics increasingly alienate our citizenry from fulfilling their civic obligations. Urban's passion and leadership has the potential to influence thousands of students and young people at ASU, in our community, and beyond.