Bolles senior Alaïa Jeannin ’27 spoke on Capitol Hill this summer as part of the American Civil Liberties Union's summer program in Washington, D.C.

More than 10,000 students applied to the ACLU program through a competitive essay process, with approximately 900 selected to attend.

Jeannin was among 30 participants chosen to meet with members of Congress, including Florida Reps. Randy Fine, Cory Mills and John Rutherford. She also was one of four students selected to deliver a speech on Capitol Hill.

In her remarks, Jeannin focused on the broader theme of injustice, challenging the audience to consider how society treats those with the least power. She spoke about the connections between human rights, environmental protection and animal welfare, ultimately asking the question, "Who do we decide is worthy of protection?"

Jeannin has been involved in advocacy and conservation efforts for several years, particularly in support of bird conservation and environmental stewardship. She has also been involved with the Bolles Speech & Debate team under Coach Bob Hutchings. Watch her complete speech here. Well done, Alaïa!