The Craig Newmark Veterans Scholarship Fund provides financial support to active-duty service members, veterans and military-connected students at the McCourt School of Public Policy.
The McCourt School is pleased to announce that Ed Holden (MPP’27), Megan Kitsinian (MPP-EP’28), Andrew Powers (MPM’27), Malachi Seib (MPM’28) and Daniel Winter (MPP’28) have been selected as 2026-2027 Newmark Scholars. They are joined by returning scholars Ryan Johnson (MPP-MBA’27), Gabriel McKern (MPP-MSFS’27), Hayley Morton (MPP’27) and Cade Roy (MPP’27).
Made possible by the generosity of Craig Newmark Philanthropies, the McCourt School of Public Policy awards scholarships of $20,000 to selected active-duty service members, veterans and military-connected students.
The 2026-2027 Newmark Scholars Cohort
Ed Holden (MPP’27)
Ed Holden (MPP’27), a Delaware native, grew up with his father’s motto: “Protect the little guy.” His father’s experience in the U.S. Army, protecting those who could not protect themselves, cemented his desire to teach his children to intervene when injustices took place. Those ideals were passed down through a long line of family members who served in the Army and other branches, and Holden hopes to carry them into his work in policy. He has worked in the U.S. Senate and on local, statewide and federal campaigns, and hopes to work on behalf of labor unions. Holden holds a B.A. in American history from the University of Delaware.
Meagan Kitsinian (MPP’29)
Meagan Kitsinian (MPP’29) learned discipline and preparation from her father, a U.S. Army captain whose mantra, “If you’re not early, you’re late,” still guides her work. Watching him navigate the VA health care system showed her early on how well-intentioned programs can fall short of the people they are designed to serve. As director of policy at a bipartisan government affairs firm in Washington, DC, she advises clients on tax, trade, higher education, intellectual property and veterans’ affairs issues. At the McCourt School, she is building the analytical skills to design policies that are both innovative and responsive. She holds a B.A. in political science and global studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.
Andrew Powers (MPM’27)
Andrew Powers (MPM’27) comes to the McCourt School from a family with a multigenerational tradition of military service. A career Armor Officer in the U.S. Army with 10 years of experience leading soldiers, he has observed firsthand the value of diverse experiences and perspectives in solving complex problems. Powers is passionate about designing policies that remain effective through implementation and are resilient to bureaucratic barriers and unintended consequences. At McCourt, he seeks to develop his capacity for critical thought, institutional reform and military strategy. Powers holds a B.A. and a Master of Public and International Affairs from Virginia Tech and will continue his service as an Army strategist upon graduation next summer.
Malachi Seib (MPM’28)
Malachi Seib (MPM’28) did not grow up in a military town or a military family, so his 2016 appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy came as a complete shock to his family. Ten years later, he is grateful he took that leap into service. Having spent five and a half years as a Surface Warfare Officer, Seib has led 70 sailors at sea, completed one of the Surface Navy’s most rigorous tactical training courses and recommended tough funding cuts in a budget-constrained environment. Through it all, he learned that sailors are the ones most affected by changes in policy and funding, a lesson that taught him to be a compassionate leader. At McCourt, he hopes to learn how to lead within the constraints of current policy and to build a network of dedicated professionals. He holds a B.S. in mathematics and economics from the U.S. Naval Academy.
Daniel Winter (MPP’28)
Daniel Winter (MPP’28) developed his interest in using policy to help others from his father, who served in the U.S. Air Force and continues to serve the military community as an orthopaedic surgeon at a VA hospital. As a Division I athlete, first at Wake Forest University and now at Georgetown, Winter has seen firsthand how sport can build trust across cultures and borders. At McCourt, he hopes to focus on transatlantic affairs and sports policy and to help shape the policies that make that possible. He is a recent graduate of Wake Forest, where he earned a B.A. in politics and international affairs and psychology and competed on the track and cross-country teams.