When the Republican National Convention kicks off in Cleveland next week, Webb School of Knoxville will have one of its own as an official page of the Republican National Committee. Troy Whiteside Jr., class of 2015, was one of the very few young people selected out of thousands of highly qualified applicants, to help ensure the smooth operation of what is surely to be a historical convention.
Whiteside is currently entering his sophomore year at Cornell University, in Ithaca, NY where he has already established a highly successful start in the Ivy League. Whiteside not only earned a varsity letter in basketball, but was also an academic Dean’s List student.
Despite his relatively young age, this is not Whiteside’s first foray into the sophisticated, but tough world of politics. He interned for the Honorable Congressman John J. Duncan Jr. of Tennessee this summer. In addition, he has volunteered in several local political campaigns, and he provided live interviews and feedback for Channel 8 WVLT news during the 2009 Obama Presidential Inauguration.
There is no doubt that Whiteside is looking forward to taking part in an exciting and possibly historic convention. The role of an official RNC Page at the Convention will allow Whiteside an intimate perspective on American democracy in practice at the conclusion of a surprising and hard-fought primary season, which has earned Donald Trump the title of presumptive nominee. As a page, Whiteside will be working directly for the RNC in operating, managing, and assisting the thousands of delegates from around the country when it comes time to nominate the GOP’s candidates for President and Vice President. As an official Page, Whiteside will be living on the campus of Cleveland State University with the other Pages, and will spend all day—and much of the night—fulfilling whatever duties the RNC assigns to him.
Whiteside has come to his conservative beliefs independently through extensive study and debate; his parents Jacqueline and Troy Whiteside Sr. are both loyal republicans and party members but never pushed either of their children towards any political party. Troy Jr. credits his time at Webb School with providing him a solid grounding in history, philosophy and civics, as well as an exposure to many different intellectual perspectives among his classmates and teachers, which have all helped shape his personal political inclinations.
“Webb and Cornell have graced me with a flexible and analytical way of coming to my own decisions. I truly believe that the Republican Party offers this country its best chance at moving forward for the benefit of all Americans in a very delicately balanced world.”
