Hi, my name is Taite and I live in Wilton, Connecticut. I just started my senior year at Wilton High School. A normal day for me consists of going to school then straight to rowing practice, and then staying up way past my bedtime to stay afloat in my classes. Even though my daily life may seem boring to an outsider I, unlike most kids, really enjoy school, studying, and having to maintain a balance between a rigorous sport and set of classes. When I am in school I find myself drawn to two subjects: English and Science. I find the natural world incredibly fascinating, and I find myself being drawn more and more everyday to a career out in nature. I also love every English class I have ever been in. Writing and reading give me extreme joy; whenever I am assigned to write an essay in class I look forward to sitting down and organizing the perfect piece. Besides my core interests lie several core beliefs of mine. The first is the importance of going out of one’s comfort zone. Rowing, for me, serves as a perfect area where I physically feel pushed beyond my understanding of what I believe I can reach. My second belief is the importance of cultivating lifelong relationships that allow me to learn and grow into a better person. I truly think that with the right support group and base of people to rely on anyone can receive their own version of success.

My name is Kyra Joostema. I am originally from California, but now live in Virginia. I attend The Madeira School. I am passionate about the intersections of history, public policy, and statistics. My favorite topics of history to study are indigenous communities, women’s rights, and presidential elections. In my free time I like to bake, read books, and watch Disney movies. Being a Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson House has been an amazing opportunity to learn more about museum curation, ways the past influences the present, and the important events during Wilson’s presidency.

My name is Jess Nather, and I was born and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland. I'm currently a senior at Albert Einstein High School, and I'll be attending Boston University next year as part of the Class of 2026. I absolutely love researching history; my favorite periods to explore in U.S. history are the Jacksonian Era and Wilsonian Era, and maybe the Revolution, too. I also love researching my own family genealogy, which I've been working on for years. At the Woodrow Wilson House, I've constantly been amazed at the artifacts and documents I'm able to access, as well as the beauty of the building itself. I'm extremely excited to continue my internship in the 2nd semester!

My name is Tara Van Vliet. I was born and raised in Lincoln Nebraska. I am a junior at Nebraska Wesleyan University pursuing a BA in history with minors in gender studies and music. At Nebraska Wesleyan I am involved in the music fraternity, Mu Phi Epsilon, as well as serving as the vice president of our campus' knitting club. Currently, for the spring 2022 semester, I am living in Washington D.C. through an internship program at my university.  Living in D.C. has been an incredible opportunity! I have been able to see so many museums and historical sites and in general adjusting to the life of a larger city has been eye opening. The staff at the Woodrow Wilson House has been so kind welcoming me in. I have gotten so many hands-on opportunities learning how historical houses operate. I am excited for the rest of my semester in the nation's capital and all the opportunities it has waiting for me!

My name is Owen Collander. I was born in Colorado, but I have lived in Concord, North Carolina for most of my life. In fact, I have lived on a horse farm since 2013. I have one younger brother named Brody. In 2019, I graduated from high school and decided to attend Roanoke College. While at Roanoke, I declared a Major in History and a Concentration in Public History. My favorite period of history to study is from the 1800s onward, but I really enjoy studying any period in history. I have also had the opportunity to become involved in multiple clubs, and I have even been working as a campus tour guide for almost two years now. In my free time, I really enjoy spending time with my friends, exploring new places and learning more about the wider world, and also relaxing and watching YouTube. At the Woodrow Wilson House, I have had the pleasure of getting to understand just what it takes to run a historical house such as this one. I have also figured out how to use public transport, which is a bonus! I look forward to meeting and discussing my experiences further.

Gabriel is a university student studying political science at Boston University. He is interested in not only policy, but the history that shaped it. He is passionate about historical research, as well as political outreach to those who need it most. He wishes to work with educational policy, as he believes that a robust education system can positively impact all areas of constituent life. He works hard and with passion, and is interested in meeting people who are knowledgeable in the fields of politics, education, or history.

Hi, my name is Taite and I live in Wilton, Connecticut. I just started my senior year at Wilton High School. A normal day for me consists of going to school then straight to rowing practice, and then staying up way past my bedtime to stay afloat in my classes. Even though my daily life may seem boring to an outsider I, unlike most kids, really enjoy school, studying, and having to maintain a balance between a rigorous sport and set of classes. When I am in school I find myself drawn to two subjects: English and Science. I find the natural world incredibly fascinating, and I find myself being drawn more and more everyday to a career out in nature. I also love every English class I have ever been in. Writing and reading give me extreme joy; whenever I am assigned to write an essay in class I look forward to sitting down and organizing the perfect piece. Besides my core interests lie several core beliefs of mine. The first is the importance of going out of one’s comfort zone. Rowing, for me, serves as a perfect area where I physically feel pushed beyond my understanding of what I believe I can reach. My second belief is the importance of cultivating lifelong relationships that allow me to learn and grow into a better person. I truly think that with the right support group and base of people to rely on anyone can receive their own version of success.

My name is Jess Nather, and I was born and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland. I'm currently a senior at Albert Einstein High School, and I'll be attending Boston University next year as part of the Class of 2026. I absolutely love researching history; my favorite periods to explore in U.S. history are the Jacksonian Era and Wilsonian Era, and maybe the Revolution, too. I also love researching my own family genealogy, which I've been working on for years. At the Woodrow Wilson House, I've constantly been amazed at the artifacts and documents I'm able to access, as well as the beauty of the building itself. I'm extremely excited to continue my internship in the 2nd semester!

My name is Ani. I’m from Vanadzor, Armenia. I am currently a senior Art major and Museum Studies minor studying at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Before that I studied at United World College Dilijan where I received my international baccalaureate diploma. I was a scholar at the Woodrow Wilson House for Spring 2021 and continued my scholarship in the summer as well. My experience there was very fulfilling and valuable. I learned a lot about the museum world and am very happy to have received that opportunity.

Zachary "Zach" Burt is a graduate student in historic preservation at Goucher College. He lives in Washington, DC, and loves exploring the city's history, culture, and architecture. He also enjoys visiting historic sites around the country and posting about them on Instagram. In the spring of 2021, he was a Scholar at the Wilson House. His time at the Wilson House was spent learning more about the management and operations of historic properties and house museums. Notably, he worked with his mentor, Edward Gerber, to write a short article on President Wilson and Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis' "consequential friendship." This involved interviewing Brandeis' grandson, Frank Gilbert, and scholar and presidential historian, John Milton Cooper, Jr. Zach is now working as the Community Outreach and Grants Manager at the DC Preservation League (DCPL). In this role, he staffs the Landmarks and Government Affairs committees, where he manages DCPL's historic landmarks nomination process and advocacy efforts. He also works with the grassroots organization, the DC Historic Districts Coalition, and manages two grant funds that DCPL offers to individuals and organizations with preservation-related project proposals.

Hi, my name is Tom Merritt and I was a Woodrow Wilson House Scholar mainly in Fall 2020, but also a little in Spring 2021. I am from Chevy Chase, MD, right outside DC, and I go to Union College where I study Economics and History. While at the Woodrow Wilson House I mainly concentrated on creating maps and other visual aids, the Kelly Collection and helped out with small tasks around the museum. I really like playing sports, hanging out with friends, and exploring DC.

What you do: (school, work, side gigs, etc.)  11th grader at Thurgood Marshall Academy

Where you are now:  Southeast,DC

Where you are from: Southeast,DC

What you are looking forward to doing at WWH: Meeting new people, an learning about Woodrow Wilson time as the President.

A benefit of the confinement, if any: more time to write in my journal.

Last post on Social Media: (that you feel comfortable sharing…..) A poem I have been working on