2025 Summer Széll Kálmán Public Policy Fellows: Péter Botond Balogh, Veronika Tóth, Máté Négyessy, Ágoston Sikos
Péter Botond Balogh, Máté Négyessy, Ágoston Sikos, and Veronika Tóth were the four participants in this year’s Summer Széll Kálmán Public Policy Fellowship. The fellows spent eight weeks in Washington, D.C., taking classes at George Mason University, interning at a host organization of their choice, and participating in extracurricular events, conferences, panel discussions, Congressional hearings, and meetings.
Péter Balogh spent two months as an intern at the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, where he contributed to regulatory policy research and data analysis. Péter’s ambition is to understand economic processes not only from the business perspective but also through the lens of public policy led him to choose the Business and Government Relations track. He learned that while there are many differences between the American and Hungarian societies and political ecosystems, these differences offer valuable lessons that can be adapted and applied back home. The fellowship gave him new perspectives and concrete ideas on how to work more effectively toward positive change in Hungary. Although progress can be a long and challenging process, applying best practices can make it faster and more impactful than expected.
“The Fellowship was truly life-changing and broadened my horizons in countless ways. It provided me with an exceptional personal and professional foundation for future development. I built lasting friendships, gained valuable knowledge, and experienced significant growth. Having had prior information about the program, my expectations were high — and the fellowship not only met them but exceeded them.” – Péter Botond Balogh
Máté Négyessy joined the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation and offered support to the Competition Policy Team by combining his academic background in international relations with practical research and policy experience. He learned about how competition policy functions across jurisdictions and how it intersects with international cooperation, diplomacy, and trade policy. Máté learned the difference between European and American communication, which was one of his goals for this summer. He gained a general understanding of American political thought and U.S. foreign policy. In addition, meeting new people across the country and talking with them offered him a unique insight into society.
During his fellowship, Máté also had a publication together with HF Post/Graduate Visiting Research Alumna, Lilla Nóra KIss, at the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation. The article discussed Why the EU’s International Digital Strategy Should Prioritize Repairing Transatlantic Cooperation.
“The Széll Kálmán Public Policy Fellowship exceeded my expectations, I have not participated in such an intensive short-term exchange program before. The logistics of the 2 month were flawless thanks to Hungary Foundation and TFAS. The biggest challenge regarding the schedule was to select from the countless opportunities that we were offered.” – Máté Négyessy
Ágoston Sikos served as an intern in the Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force of the American Legislative Exchange Council. Simultaneously, he attended classes at George Mason University, where he chose to study American political thought and economic ideas. The internship exceeded his expectations. Ágoston’s colleagues were not only intelligent and approachable, but they were also able to enjoy baseball games and social outings together, while the work assigned was substantial and meaningful. He attended ALEC’s annual meeting and impressed the supervisors enough to join closed-door sessions near Foggy Bottom or Capitol Hill. Even without such access, the work itself offered an exceptional education in how state and federal governments interact and who or what dominates in each.
“I would say the experience was as intense as I made it, and far more rewarding than I expected when it came to personal connections, quality of conversations and advice, and getting a real sense of how the Washington crowd think and live. Additionally, because of the specific tasks I was given during my internship, I ended up learning the US power structure in a way no one else on the course did, which was an unexpected and very valuable bonus.” – Ágoston Sikos
Veronika Tóth served as a research intern at the Center for Immigration Studies, and her project examined how education systems function as pathways for migration. During the fellowship, she gained direct insight into the workings of American federalism and policymaking while deepening her understanding of transatlantic relations. The most significant lesson she took away from her fellowship experience is the American way of thinking about politics and public life, which emphasizes individual responsibility, active civic participation, and pragmatic problem-solving. Veronika learned a lot about how Washington interprets and influences global dynamics and how domestic values and interests determine strategic goals. She was motivated by the mindset of the students she met, who showed openness to debate complex issues.
“Overall, I had a really fulfilling and intellectually stimulating experience with the Fellowship program. By providing exclusive professional opportunities, thought-provoking seminars, and access to a network of policy professionals the program not only met but surpassed my expectations. I especially valued the encouraging atmosphere and the willingness to consider other viewpoints.” – Veronika Tóth
