Led by Rebecca Sayed, our team of student interns help shape the party through our internship program. Meet them here!
Maddy Chang
Lynbrook High School Class of 2027
- How she got into politics: Helping out in campaigns during the 2024 election!
- Specializes in: Phonebanks, youth engagement events
- Other activities: Model UN, newspaper
- “This internship program has been a great opportunity for me to get civically engaged in my community. I love phonebanking and talking to voters, as their perspectives can allow you to become more open-minded.
Anika Khanna
Lynbrook High School Class of 2028
- How she got into politics: Getting involved during the 2024 elections and with High School Democrats of America!
- Specializes in: Events, Outreach, Phone banking
- Other activities: HSDA, Campaign work
- “There are so many initiatives the SCCDP is working on, and I’m really grateful to be able to contribute to them. My favorite part is that I’m able to do work that affects not only the county, but districts across California, & at times, the US!”
Ruchika Villivalam
Fremont High School Class of 2027
- How she got into politics: By writing postcards to swing state voters during the 2020 election!
- Specializes in: Voter Registration, Phone Banking, Outreach, Merchandise
- Other activities: Fremont HS Bella Choir, Fremont HS Tennis, TA at The Music School
- “I enjoy a lot about being an intern with Santa Clara County Democratic Party, but my favorite thing is how much I am able to do and get involved with. Working with the SCCDP has given me lots of opportunities to make a difference in the Santa Clara County Community, and I’m super grateful for everything I’ve gotten to experience!”
Klarissa Schiffert
University of Toronto 2028
- How she got into politics: I joined my school’s league of young women voters in my sophomore year. It was really inspiring helping people register to vote and attend events with older activists. I knew I wanted to continue this even as I entered high school.
- Specializes in: Yapping about political history, Voter registration, Pre-protest parties.
- Other activities: Model UN, Mock Trial, Origami club
- “I have loved seeing how passionate the people around me are. It has inspired me to give it my all and make a difference, no matter how small.”
Krishna Nidhin
Leigh High School Class of 2026
- How she got into politics: By wanting to play a role in the 2024 Election and helping the Democratic campaign!
- Specializes in: Postcarding Campaign, Data Management, Phonebanking, Setting up new and fun activities
- Other Activities: Senior Class President, Tech & Publicity Commission, Debate Club, Wrestling team
- “I love the opportunities that SCCDP has given me to make an impact and have a role in helping the national Democratic campaigns!”
Ariana Corbu
Evergreen Valley High School Class of 2027
- How she got into politics: By campaigning for candidates, both on the local level (City Councilmembers) and federal level (Congress) during the 2024 election.
- Specializes in: Canvassing, Phonebanking, Voter Registration, Youth Engagement, and Fundraisers.
- Other Activities: Speech and Debate, Mock Trial, Law Club, Swim Team
- “I love how SCCDP’s internship program has allowed me to further my interests in civic engagement and politics. I enjoy meeting new people and seeing how one person can make an incredible impact.”
Caroline Zhang
Evergreen Valley High School Class of 2028
- How she got into politics: Canvassing for local elections, attending protests, participating in SCCDP’s Youth Takeover
- Specializes in: Voter Registration, Updating newsletter, Fundraising, and Outreach
- Other Activities: Speech and Debate, Robotics
- “I am extremely thankful that SCCDP has given me the opportunity to get involved in local politics and make youth voices heard!”
Pranya Nagpal
Evergreen Valley Class of 2026
- How she got into politics: She led the SCCDP social media accounts for the 2024 election season!
- Specializes in: Social media, fundraisers, phonebanks, youth engagement events
- Other activities: Speech & Debate, Theater
- “I’ve loved this internship for giving me the opportunity to meet like-minded advocates and have fun while making change that has an impact on a national scale.”
Warren Li
How did you get into politics?: I grew interested in politics after reading the news during the 2020 and 2024 elections, which made me realize how polarized our current political climate has become.
What do you specialize in as an intern?: Phone Banking, Data Management
What other activities do you do outside of school?: 3D modeling, writing for the school newspaper
What is your favorite part about being an intern?: My favorite part about being an intern is having the opportunity to work on something you are passionate about and make an impact!
What school do you go to and what is your graduation year?: BASIS Independent Silicon Valley 2027
Aahaan Jain
How did you get into politics?: Learned about state policy through Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action’s State Advocacy team and grew curious about legislation and politics, both on a state and local level!
What do you specialize in as an intern?: Phonebanking, youth engagement, outreach
What other activities do you do outside of school?: Youth Economics Initiative National Officer, Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, California Youth Climate Policy Program, Economics Research!
What is your favorite part about being an intern?: I love that at SCCDP that even without significant prior experience you are able to work with such a passionate and talented team and learn from Rebecca, who’s such a great mentor! SCCDP is also really flexible, so you can pick and choose specific aspects of policy that you’re passionate about. You really get out of it what you put into it.
What school do you go to and what is your graduation year?: Lynbrook Class of 2029
Riley Dalton
How did you get into politics?: Donald Trump’s opening campaign speech showed me that racism, xenophobia, and various other forms of bigotry were not dying quietly like I previously believed, but were being openly embraced by much of America. If I don’t fight to right the ship, who will?
What do you specialize in as an intern?: Data Management, Writing, Canvassing
What other activities do you do outside of school?: Reading, working on a revised constitution of the United States,
What is your favorite part about being an intern?: My favorite part about being an intern is being active in a community fighting for a common cause
What school do you go to and what is your graduation year?: UCSC Class of 2025
Utkarsh Sinha
How did you get into politics?: I got into politics during covid when I spent time home watching the news and becoming more aware on the issues that affect our communities. In high school, I was given the opportunity to speak at California’s State Capital for a mental health bill that I was deeply passionate about.
What do you specialize in as an intern?: The biggest skill I offer to the table is my public speaking and communication skills as an intern
What other activities do you do outside of school?: Outside of school, I’m extremely interested in debate, I love watching basketball, and teaching younger students is a great hobby of mine
What is your favorite part about being an intern?: My favorite part of being an intern is understanding how change is made. Often times, we see the end results, but as an intern, we see how the final product has arrived and how we can apply those skills to our daily lives.
What school do you go to and what is your graduation year?: Irvington High School Class of 2028
Bhavya Vyas
How did you get into politics?: researching about politics through debate and the recent events taken place after the 2024 election!
What do you specialize in as an intern?: mental health initiatives, publicity, phone banking, and outreach
What other activities do you do outside of school?: Debate, Mock Trial, organize South-Asian Cultural events, play badminton
What is your favorite part about being an intern?: My favorite part about working at the SCCDP is definitely being able to take on your own initiatives and being able to do what you are truly passionate about! This experience has given me so many opportunities to become a young leader and become so involved with the party itself.
Aditi Satish
Lynbrook Class of 2027
How did you get into politics?
I got into politics during the 2020 and 2024 elections and deepened my involvement through D1 Youth Advisory Council, where I worked with local government and helped support policy and education-equality initiatives!
What do you specialize in as an intern?
Phone banking, outreach, voter regestration
What other activities do you do outside of school?
District 1 Youth Advisory Council, Blogging, Soccer Team, Psychology Club
What is your favorite part about being an intern?
My favorite part of being an intern is getting to be civically engaged and helping raise political awareness, especially in such a polarized climate. I love phonebanking because it lets me hear new perspectives, have real conversations, and help inform people in a meaningful way!
Kailey Randell
Silver Creek High School Class of 2027
Lynsie N Young
San Jose City College- Spring 2027
How did you get into politics?
My niece suggested that I look into Politics
What do you specialize in as an intern?
learning canvassing and phone banking
What other activities do you do outside of school?
I am part of Top Ladies of Distinction organization.
What is your favorite part about being an intern?
I enjoy being in an environment where I can learn and network with other people to fulfill the same goals that I am interested in.
Ananya Rawlani
Mission San Jose Class of 2028
How did you get into politics?
The 2016 election made me especially interested in politics, and during the 2024 election, phone banking made me become heavily passionate about it.
What do you specialize in as an intern?
phone banking, immigration, human rights
What other activities do you do outside of school?
I play piano, tennis, participate in DECA and Debate, and volunteer for the DNC in my free time.
What is your favorite part about being an intern?
My favorite part about being an intern is being able to make a change in my community and advocate for what I have always believed in.
Melody Xu
Palo Alto High School, 2027
How did you get into politics?
being involved in student activism, protests, and campaigning
What do you specialize in as an intern?
policy drafting, video editing, newsletters
What other activities do you do outside of school?
Broadcast Journalism, Debate, Volunteering at shelters
What is your favorite part about being an intern?
I love that we get to engage and make impact on important issues in our community. SCCDP has given me exposure and resources to be able to start my own projects and collaborate with other interns.
Sanhita Chava
California High School Class of 2029
How did you get into politics?
Through speech and debate, I discovered my love for public issues, which built a solid base of knowledge, and writing about the ICE protests for my school’s newspaper cemented my drive to get involved with politics.
What do you specialize in as an intern?
Women’s rights, immigration, newsletter, phonebanking, and canvassing
What other activities do you do outside of school?
Speech and Debate, Newspaper, SRVUSD Equity Member
What is your favorite part about being an intern?
My favorite part of being an intern is working with others from diverse backgrounds who have the same passion for making a difference in our community.
Stefan Johnson
Saint Francis High School Class of 2028
How did you get into politics?
I got involved with politics by attending first the No Kings protest with Indivisible
What do you specialize in as an intern?
I specialize in drafting nuclear energy, housing, and transportation policy
What other activities do you do outside of school?
Outside of school, I’m involved with Climate Action California and Indivisible San Jose
What is your favorite part about being an intern?
My favorite part of being an intern is getting to be involved politically before I can even vote. I am able to directly see how my actions on the intern team effect different elections and policy debates across California.
Veda Mungara
Mountain View High School Class of 2027
How did you get into politics?
2020 and 2024 Presidential Elections, Campaign Internship for Abdul El-Sayed
What do you specialize in as an intern?
phone banking, canvassing, social media, newsletters
What other activities do you do outside of school?
Speech and Debate, Mock Trial, TEDx
What is your favorite part about being an intern?
My favorite part about being an intern at SCCDP is engaging with people from diverse backgrounds while making a direct impact on my community.
