András Cunningham is a Hungarian American who grew up in Bucharest, Romania, and attended the Ady Endre Preschool. Currently, he is a high school senior enrolled in the Visual and Performing Arts Program at Albert Einstein High School, Kensington, MD. Additionally, he is a member of the National Honors Society and has studied digital and studio art throughout high school. Moreover, he will begin his studies at the University of Maryland in the College Park Scholars program his major in Immersive Media and Design.

András’ passion for the digital arts developed when he first opened Adobe Photoshop and began to experiment with the tools within the program.

András speaks Hungarian, English, and Spanish. He has been spending his summers in Central and Eastern Europe to visit family and friends.

In his spare time, he enjoys fishkeeping, fishing, and skateboarding. He is interested in developing a career in digital art and design.

The Hungary Foundation is a solely charitable 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The Foundation pursues its mission and goals by supporting Hungarian-American organizations and by supporting programs that strengthen interaction and cooperation between Hungarian and American citizens and institutions. In particular, the Foundation is focused on supporting cultural, educational and scholarly activities. The Foundation does not participate in political activities, political or election campaigns.

Born in London to an American father and an Australian mother, James has a multicultural background that is defined strongly by his mother’s Hungarian roots. James’s maternal grandparents met en route to Australia in a Hungarian refugee camp in 1952/1953. Their story has inspired James’s interest in the strong presence of Hungarian communities in the English-speaking world, including the impressive rate of representation that people of Hungarian origin enjoy at the highest levels of international industry, academia, and the performing arts.

James completed his undergraduate degree at Yale University, where he double-majored in Global Affairs and Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations. He also studied Piano Performance at the Yale School of Music. James has a particular interest in American foreign policy and international law, and while at Yale he spent summers interning at embassies and think tanks in Washington D.C. In his final year at Yale, he completed a project on the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, which ignited his desire to study the politics of Central Europe more closely. It was through his participation in the “War Studies Program,” hosted jointly by the Hertog Foundation and the Institute for the Study of War in Washington D.C., that James was introduced to the Budapest Fellowship Program.

Born to a family on the move, Meg grew up in Dallas, Texas, and the Middle East. Raised with a deep appreciation for knowledge and American tradition, she has had the fortune of living many lives. She began her professional career by training as a medical doctor (in an M.B.B.S. program) only to realize that she was called to serve with the pen – not the scalpel.

After graduating with an M.A. in the humanities from Dartmouth College, Meg actively engaged with New England politics. She has held progressively responsible leadership positions in the center-right public policy sphere, most recently serving as president of the Ethan Allen Institute in Vermont.

Meg created a politics-focused local television program called “Dialogues with Meg Hansen,” and has been a frequent columnist in regional newspapers. She owns a communications firm, which promotes civic engagement through multimedia initiatives and innovative art. Her love of aesthetics led her to earn a Master’s degree in material culture studies from the Polimoda Institute of Design in Florence, Italy along with work experience in the European sustainable fashion industry. She is a published poet and Romantic at heart.

John Wesley Reid is a native of Southern California who never took interest in a political career as a youth. But after studying political science at Biola University and theology at Liberty University just south of Washington D.C., he realized the imperative need for Christians in the political sphere.

In 2017, John moved to Washington D.C., as a producer with the Christian Broadcasting Network. In this capacity, he focused on the Supreme Court, free speech, and the intersection of faith values in legislation. In his journalism career, John has covered landmark Supreme Court cases such as Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado, Dobbs v. Jackson Whole Women’s Health, 303 Creative v. Elenis, and several more. John has interviewed many members of Congress and political influencers such as Ben Shapiro, Michael Knowles, Megan Basham, Andrew Klavan, and Kristen Waggoner, among many others.

As a community of law students and lawyers who are open to the world and ready to take action, the MCC School of Law strives to prepare students with extensive social connections and social commitments for a successful career in law. They operate a multi-year, comprehensive professional training and talent development system that delivers a meaningful and exciting academic experience.

Paul’s education includes a bachelor’s in English at Liberty University, an experience which deeply changed his life for the better and brought him on the path to the Fellowship in the coming years. While at Liberty, he was a part of several mission trips to Romania, which eventually led him to develop an interest in Eastern and Central Europe. He later went to the Czech Republic for several months to obtain a TEFL degree.

The Youth Research Institute was established in 2021 in cooperation between Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) and Nézőpont Institute. MCC is committed to the mission of community building, and understanding generations, especially young people, is a key element to this. As a 25-year-old institution for talent development, MCC has always been involved in social research, but the focus on youth research has been brought even more into focus. The newly created institute has been involved in the educational activities of MCC, and it also intends to have an impact on the professional community through publications, the development of professional partnerships and well-planned, regular media appearances. They also plan to regularly publish research outcomes in peer-reviewed international journals and to build international relations with institutes with a similar profile. The Youth Research Institute seeks to contribute to a better understanding of the mindset of the young generation that is in the focus of the activities of MCC.
The Institute currently has six staff members, led by Levente Székely, a sociologist who also directs the work at the MCC Center for Sociology.

Barna Péterfi experienced his first intercultural exchange in high school where he participated in the American Field Service (AFS) Intercultural Programs’ exchange year organized in Russia. Since then, he has been an advocate for the importance of understanding national and transnational cultural characteristics from both the Eastern and Western parts of the world. Finishing his high school in Hungary this has led Barna to apply to the University of Edinburgh where he is currently a 2nd-year student majoring in Russian Studies and Politics. For his third year, he will be participating in a university-led placement program where he will live and gain professional experience in the Baltic states.

Founded in 1913, ASLRRA proudly represents the entrepreneurial owners and operators of short line and regional railroads throughout North America. These approximately 600 small businesses play a vital role in the hub-and-spoke transportation network, often providing the first-mile/last-mile connection between farmers and manufacturers and the ultimate consumer.

Prior to her internship at AEI, Annamária gained valuable experience at Case Solvers, a Forbes 30 under 30 startup. As a Student Ambassador, she played a pivotal role in enhancing problem-solving skills for students, contributing to a more innovative and entrepreneurial future for Hungary. Additionally, Annamária’s dedication to sustainable development led her to be selected for the prestigious Sustainable Lifestyles and Education Program, an initiative of the United Nations. As part of this program, she joined a network of young professionals who are passionate about shaping a sustainable future through global cooperation. Through her involvement in these initiatives, Annamária has shown her unwavering commitment to innovation and creating positive change in both the entrepreneurial and sustainable development realms.

She has a strong commitment to widening educational opportunities and supporting underprivileged talents. Her involvement as a Student Ambassador for Widening Participation at LSE showcases her dedication to enabling prospective students from diverse backgrounds to pursue their educational goals. She has been volunteering for various organizations in Hungary for the last three years to improve future prospects of children in impoverished communities.

The American Enterprise Institute is a public policy think tank dedicated to defending human dignity, expanding human potential, and building a freer and safer world. The work of our scholars and staff advances ideas rooted in our belief in democracy, free enterprise, American strength and global leadership, solidarity with those at the periphery of our society, and a pluralistic, entrepreneurial culture.

Márton’s enthusiasm for European affairs and economic integration studies is also reflected in his academic activities. He is currently writing his thesis on the assessment of the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Funds after having finished his third year at the Eötvös Loránd University of Budapest with a 4.0 GPA, majoring in International Business Economics. His other research interests are also related to the economics of the European Union, with a special focus on European budgetary issues.

Márton always strived for challenging himself in competitive international environments. He successfully completed a course on European affairs at the prestigious SciencesPo Paris Summer School last July. He has also actively participated in international conferences such as the Future European Leaders Forum in Prague or the ConSIMium program in Brussels. Therefore, he is well equipped with the toolset to achieve his goals in the politically most vibrant city in the world.

The ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force is dedicated to researching and promoting sound policy aimed at creating a pro-growth atmosphere in state economies. Policies that promote economic growth and increase state competitiveness are achieved by reducing excessive government spending and limiting the overall tax burden. The Task Force’s legislative members are at the forefront of developing sound, fiscally responsible, and free market tax and fiscal policies to address the needs that the states now face.

The Task force has pioneered policies that increase budget transparency, promote state spending limitations, require super-majorities for tax increases, implement dynamic revenue forecasting, and many more. The Task Force has several Subcommittees that examine specific policy areas in detail. These areas include fiscal policy reform, internet taxation, education finance, and public pensions.

The ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force is working to provide economically viable, fiscally responsible, and free market solutions to promote economic growth.

Rebecca Ajtai is a senior studying international relations with a focus on foreign policy and national security with the German language minor at American University. She has a great interest in EU policy, and immigration issues, and has conducted research on the democratic decline and other relevant topics over the course of her undergraduate education.

Growing up with strong ties to her Hungarian heritage, she was a member of the Hungarian Scouts in Buffalo, NY for many years, where she learned about Hungarian history and culture, going on to eventually teach younger troop members. She also travels to Hungary annually to visit family and friends.

The Hungary Foundation is a solely charitable 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The Foundation pursues its mission and goals by supporting Hungarian-American organizations and by supporting programs that strengthen interaction and cooperation between Hungarian and American citizens and institutions. In particular, the Foundation is focused on supporting cultural, educational and scholarly activities. The Foundation does not participate in political activities, political or election campaigns.