For decades, Saint Anslem College has been a harbor for student opportunity. For politics in particular, the Hilltop offers the once in a lifetime kind of opportunity thanks to the New Hampshire Institute of Politics and Kevin B. Harrington student ambassador program the institute runs. 

Thanks to this program, one anselmian was able to have an experience she will never forget. Lauren Blois ’26 was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to fly out to Philadelphia to work for ABC news as a Production Runner in preparation for the big presidential debate between former President Donald Trump, and current Vice President Kamala Harris. 

Blois was able to get this experience thanks to a previous opportunity she was given. Back in January, she was able to work for ABC when they came to the Hilltop for the Republican Primary Debate. The debate however, never happened. Luckily for Blois, she kept in contact with someone at ABC she met while working the what would have been Republican Primary Debate.

Blois reflected on being disappointed but was very grateful for the original opportunity she was given.“It was tough when the Republican Primary Debate was canceled. I was disappointed, but very grateful for the opportunity. I kept in touch with my contact and he invited me to work at the Presidential Debate in Philadelphia” she said.

Lauren was in Philadelphia for 5 days. Throughout her time, she was able to see some sights as well as getting first hand experience working for a major network like ABC. “The experience was amazing. It was easily the best five days of my life.” she added.

During her time in the city of brotherly love, Blois was working alongside students from Temple, Villanova and UPenn, similar to her experience working for ABC back in January. Her job consisted of going out into the city with her fellow PRs and getting whatever the production team needed, whether it be food and snacks or office supplies.

On top of being a runner for the production staff, she was also the personal runner for ABC’s senior executive producer Marc Burstein! Being his personal runner meant she was in charge of a plethora of things. Blois added “I was in charge of his transportation, and I got to spend some time in the production truck with him and the crew.”

The debate itself was held in the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. The day of the debate, the security could not have been more tighter according to Blois. She described the scene which included a tight perimeter of the secret service. “Security from the start was very tight. So the day of the debate, there were a few blocks of Secret Service perimeter. Every time you went in, you had to go through security. And vice versa when leaving the venue.” she recalled.

The scene the day of the debate from the staff working the event was very intense according to Blois. Everyone had a job to do and they were focused to do their respective jobs under a lot of pressure. One thing Lauren enjoyed was seeing media headliners like Wolf Blitzer and Lindsey Davis in their element and seeing what goes on when the camera isn’t rolling. 

However, one memory from this incredible experience Lauren will not forget. She ran into Saint Anselm Alumna Kelsey Walsh ’17 in her travels. Blois recalled that when she met Walsh, she mentioned that she is a current student on the Hilltop and Walsh embraced her like it was old friends seeing each other. A true testament to the impact Saint Anselm has on not just its students but its Alumni.

Lauren is very grateful for her experience with ABC, but the biggest help for this to even happen was the NHIOP ambassador program. “I wouldn’t have been able to have this experience if it wasn’t for the ambassador program. I feel like the program equipped me with the skills that I needed to have a successful experience despite a little bit of a disappointing outcome back in January. I was able to accept that it was canceled but I still valued my experience. I was able to move on, and keep in contact with my connection at ABC. That landed me in a very good spot!” she added.

Blois utilized the program the way it was meant to; to make connections. She is once again a prime example of an Anselmian excelling and preparing herself for life beyond the Hilltop.