Muhlenberg College junior Skylyn Ellison of Sarver, Pa., is one of only 168 students across the country who have been named to Civic Nation’s 2026 Student Voting Honor Roll for contributions in creating a more civically engaged culture within campus communities.
Civic Nation is home to five national initiatives: the Change Collective, It’s On Us, We The Action, When We All Vote, and the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, which recognizes students — like Ellison — who lead by example and empower peers to become lifelong participants in democracy. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge has recognized Muhlenberg College consistently over the past decade, awarding the college platinum, gold, or silver awards for student engagement in the democratic process in every major election year since 2016.
A political science major at Muhlenberg, Ellison is president of the Muhlenberg College Democrats student group, leading efforts to foster political dialogue and student involvement. Demonstrating a deep commitment to the democratic process, Ellison played a pivotal role in coordinating Vice President Kamala Harris’s final 2024 campaign stop on the college’s Allentown campus. By facilitating this high-profile event, which drew over 4,000 attendees, Ellison helped transform the campus into a vibrant hub for civic discourse — providing thousands of students and community members the opportunity to engage directly with national leadership and the electoral cycle.
All members of the 2026 Student Voting Honor Roll were nominated by campus leaders for their dedication and excellence in voter education, registration and turnout in 2025.
“We are incredibly proud of Skylyn for this well-deserved national recognition,” says Muhlenberg College President Kathleen Harring, Ph.D. “At Muhlenberg, we strive to foster an environment where students don’t just learn about democratic processes — they actively shape them. Skylyn’s leadership, particularly her work in bringing a historic national spotlight to our campus, exemplifies the power of student voices. Her dedication to nonpartisan civic engagement and voter education is a testament to the vibrant, active citizenship we value in our community.”
