Matt Sonneborn stood yards away from Al Franken, Barack Obama and Ben Affleck. Ali Ahmad received so many party invitations that they stacked up an inch high. Amber VerValin said she just can't wait to see the president speak in person.
It's more glamour than the average college student is accustomed to seeing. But for a select group of University students, this year's political conventions provide an introduction to the glitzier side of their parties. Dedicated student volunteers can take a break from knocking on doors and licking envelopes and instead sit next to celebrities, watch their political heroes speak and soak in nearly nonstop parties.
"I thought it was incredible," said third-year College student Sonneborn, who was a New York delegate at the Democratic convention in July. "I got to meet a lot of famous people. [The convention] tapped into some pretty important passions for a lot of people inside."
Party officials particularly hope to stoke the passions of the young participants, who often provide the time and energy that fuel the last months of campaigns and who represent a constituency with many votes still up for grabs, Politics Prof. Larry J. Sabato said.
"They've got a lot of energy, obviously," Sabato said from the Republican convention in New York this week. "You can't tell this soon whether young people this age will end up voting one way or the other. Clearly the Republicans are trying to counter an early tilt among the 18 to 29-year-old age group."
But students serving at the conventions -- many of whom had to make up summer school sessions or miss the first week of classes -- already have plenty of fire.
"I've been watching conventions since I've really been politically aware," said fourth-year College student Ahmad, an alternate delegate for Virginia, who came to an interview before leaving for this week's Republican convention wearing a big "W" sticker. "I even remember a little bit of the '96 convention. I'm excited to be there when some of the great speeches are made."
Sonneborn said he was moved by the Democratic speeches, as Ahmad expects to be stirred by the Republicans.
But for many eager young delegates -- there were 138 under-26 delegates at the Democratic convention; 107 are attending the Republican convention -- it's not just about what they can do for their parties.
"I do intend to come back from this with a guaranteed job," Ahmad said. "The entire Virginia delegation goes up on a train together and goes back on a train together. I've been fishing for a job from some of these people for a while, so hopefully at the convention push will come to shove and someone will give me their word."
And for nearly everyone, the events and star sightings -- a party for Sen. George Allen in NBC's Rainbow Room, close encounters with Alec Baldwin and the man who plays Toby on The West Wing -- are some of the main attractions.
"There's parties and events all the time," Ahmad said. "They say the cost of going is you don't pay for food or entertainment the entire time you're in New York City. It actually makes a pretty cheap five-day vacation to New York."
Fourth-year College student VerValin, who is serving as a page for Virginia this week, does not expect to receive the star treatment that Sonneborn experienced and Ahmad anticipates.
"They're keeping us really busy so we can't go anywhere," VerValin sighed. "I guess since they're keeping us busy it will be something fun. But I'd really like to go to parties."
She said she still hopes she can squeeze in a little bit of elbow-rubbing.
"They said they're trying to work out an opportunity for us to meet the president," she said. "That would be the coolest, I'm sure."
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