January 30, 2024 — The group of Marist students who had the opportunity to bear witness to the New Hampshire primary election campaign took away unforgettable memories and lessons from the experience. 

We’ve selected some of our most dynamic photos from the trip, and paired them with statements that illustrate the unparalleled access to American democracy the students had.
 

Jen Psaki, MSNBC host and former press secretary to President Joe Biden, answers student questions on the set of her show.
Photo by Mary Griffith, Marist Poll.

On Meeting Jen Psaki:
“My favorite part of the trip was going to the NBC show taping. I had the pleasure of shaking Jen Psaki’s hand and asking a question, and I got a photo with California Congressman Ro Khanna, who was a guest on the show. The atmosphere of a news taping was also very lively and interesting, so just being there and witnessing that alone was so cool!”
Sheridan Speight '25, double major in economics and political science
 

Attendees of a rally for Donald Trump wait outside the venue.
Photo by Bobby Oliver/Marist College.

On Experiencing a Rally for Donald Trump:
“The Trump experience was really interesting, to say the least. It was a great time for our group to come together and really feel as though we were a team as we stood out in the cold for three hours. We talked to a few Trump supporters there and it was interesting to hear why they had come out and wanted to stand in line for so long. When Trump came out, I thought it was interesting to see everyone's reaction. Everyone joined in on singing 'Proud to be an American.' I don't think I've ever seen a candidate get that kind of reaction out of a crowd when they walk out on stage.”
Marissa Hebert '24, political science major

“At one point I really wanted to give up and just go home because it was so cold and we had been waiting for so long. But I had people on my team and they were like, ‘No, let's push. Let's keep going.' And I did. And it was something that I'm going to remember forever, so I think that's a great experience.”
Beatriz Matarazzo '24, public relations major, concentration in ethics and law
 

Candidates Nikki Haley and Donald Trump give speeches on the campaign trail.
Left photo by Mary Griffith, Marist Poll. Right photo by Matt Pater '25.

On Access to the Candidates and Attending Rallies:
“I was surprised by how approachable a lot of the candidates are and how close you can really get to them. You see them on TV and you think they have 20,000 bodyguards, which somebody like Trump does. But at the same time, we’re here staying at the same hotel as him. I never thought in a million years I’d be this close to a president or former president.”
Tyler Street '24, business administration major

“What surprised me was how different these events felt in person as opposed to what we see online and on television. When you are actually a part of those crowds, you feel and observe things that are never what you see through a screen. It was extremely fascinating—a bit too extreme at times—and it is for sure an experience that I will never forget.”
Colin Martin '26, mathematics major
 

Dana Bash, host of CNN’s Inside Politics, takes a photo with the Marist cohort at the Mary Ann Diner in Amherst, NH.
Photo by Bobby Oliver/Marist College.

On Meeting Dana Bash:
“At the CNN diner experience, not only did I enjoy a nice Mickey-shaped waffle while being in the background of a CNN show, afterwards we got the chance to talk with Dana Bash. I asked her a question regarding how back in 2016, Donald Trump was the first person to call out CNN for being fake news and how she has persevered through that. She gave a very rewarding answer, saying she uses that for fuel to make sure that everything she says is thoroughly fact checked.”
Ethan Solury '26, double major in political science and global studies
 

Steven Thomma, Executive Director of the White House Correspondents’ Association, sits down to chat with students.
Photo by Bobby Oliver/Marist College.

On Talking with Steven Thomma:
“It was really interesting to hear the amount of personal connections he had with famous politicians and reporters, and just hearing about his life on the road as a journalist. He has been within an arm's length of multiple, very, very important people in our politics.”
Madalynne Corallo '26, double major in political science and criminal justice.
 

Students were interviewed by media from across the country.
Photo by Mary Griffith, Marist Poll.

On Students Being Interviewed by the Media:
“We love to show off our students to the media world, to the political world, and to the broader Marist community. With all the videos and and social media has been going back and forth as people have been chronicling this trip—how cool is that? I mean, that's just awesome and we're very, very proud that the Marist students have this unique experience.”
Dr. Lee Miringoff, Director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion
 

Students had the chance to take selfies with media and political figures, including Chuck Todd, NBC News Chief Political Analyst.
Photo by Sylvia Wysor '26.

On Meeting Chuck Todd:
“It was really cool to meet Chuck Todd. He's such an inspiring person. I think he's done a really great job covering all of the primaries, for one thing, and then also just his past work is kind of cool to watch and he's very down to earth. He was very responsive to all of our questions, super open to getting selfies with students. It was a really exciting opportunity.”
Sylvia Wysor '26, communication major with journalism concentration
 

Philip Bump of The Washington Post (center-left) discusses the state of the campaign with the students.
Photo by Bobby Oliver/Marist College.

On Learning from Philip Bump: 
“Our first night we had Philip Bump for dinner with us, and it was really interesting to hear his process because he's covered so many primaries. He goes to each campaign center and kind of looks at how they're running their campaign. And that was a very interesting perspective that I hadn't really heard anybody bring up before. And it was really cool to hear what he saw at these campaign centers and how he thought the primary was going to go.”
Athen Hollis '24, political science major
 

Students braved the cold winter temperatures in New Hampshire to meet voters and attend events.
Photo by Bobby Oliver/Marist College.

On Interacting with Voters:
“It was really important to me to discuss issues with the voters of New Hampshire as opposed to just being told what they are saying on the news. So I went right to the source and asked a lady a couple of questions about what the most important issues are, and she discussed issues facing the border, and her ties to the military. I heard some perspectives that we don't really hear about on the news and it was interesting.”
Patrick Gay '26, political science major
 

Full group shot of the students who went on the New Hampshire trip.
Photo by Bobby Oliver/Marist College.

On Sharing the New Hampshire Experience With Peers and Colleagues:
“I really enjoyed the comradery of the Marist students, professors, and staff we were with. It was a lot of fun, and I got a chance to spend time with a brilliant group of people who all share the same passion as me! Hearing everyone’s perspectives and observations increased my experience and made it much more meaningful. This was a trip that I will truly never forget.”
Matthew Pater '25, political science major