Dole Institute Student Advisory Board members win University of Chicago IOP Policy Challenge

February 14, 2025 - Features

by Ella Rhuems | Student Events Assistant

The competition, judged by former U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), required participants to present a proposal that addressed the “Urban-Rural Divide” in a key policy area relevant to their chosen state. Photo courtesy of the University of Chicago Institute of Politics.

On February 3, 2025, the University of Chicago Institute of Politics hosted their first Policy Challenge Super Bowl—an expansion of their policy challenge to include teams from universities across the nation. Teams from the University of Chicago, the University of Cincinnati, and the University of Kansas—each of whom won similar policy challenges at their school—convened in Chicago to compete in a judged challenge that required them to create a proposal addressing the “Urban-Rural Divide” in a key policy area relevant to their chosen state.

Judged by former United States Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), the competing teams presented their proposals to each other and a live audience. The competition opened with a proposal from UChicago aimed at addressing drug overdoses in Texas. This was followed by Cincinnati’s plan to improve healthcare access across Ohio, and the competition concluded with the KU’s strategy for treating substance use disorders in Kansas.

Dole Institute Student Advisory Board members (from left) Jacob McCarty, Ella Rhumes, and Braiden Bangalan represented the University of Kansas at the University of Chicago’s first Policy Challenge Super Bowl. Photo courtesy of the University of Chicago Institute of Politics.

The University of Kansas team earned their place in Chicago after winning the Dole Institute’s University-wide Policy Challenge in December 2024. This regional competition was judged by local leaders, including Karen Willey, Douglas County Commissioner; Donna Ginther, a KU Distinguished Professor and Director of the Institute for Policy & Social Research; and Alan Cobb, President and CEO of the Kansas Chamber. The Kansas team consisted of three Dole Institute student workers: Ella Rhuems, the Institute’s Events Assistant, along with Jacob McCarty and Braiden Bangalan, the Institute’s two Discussion Group Coordinators.

The University of Chicago Institute of Politics Policy Challenge Super Bowl included participants from the University of Kansas, the University of Cincinnati, and the University of Chicago. Photo courtesy of the University of Chicago Institute of Politics.

At the conclusion of the competition, Senator Tester declared that the team from the University of Kansas had won! The team was surprised but thrilled that their hard work had paid off.

While in Chicago, the team took advantage of their time to explore the city, visiting popular attractions such as Cloud Gate—affectionately known as “the Bean”—and Navy Pier. They spent the day of the challenge getting to know their fellow competitors, touring the University of Chicago campus, and attending a seminar from Pritzker Fellow and former OMB Director Shalanda Young. The team really enjoyed the discussion and gained some great ideas for future Dole Institute programming.

While in Chicago, members of the Dole Institute Student Advisory Board explored the city, including the famous “Cloud Gate” sculpture. Photo by Ella Rhumes.

The team would like to extend their gratitude to the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics for the opportunity to participate in this contest and to the Dole Institute of Politics for hosting the regional competition. They also thank all the judges and numerous faculty members at each institution who helped organize this challenge.

Explore previous winners of the University of Chicago Institute of Politics Policy Challenge on the IOP’s website, and read the winning team’s policy proposal on our website.

Ella Rhuems serves as the Student Events Assistant at the Dole Institute. In this role, she supports many administrative duties leading up to events and organizes student volunteers for these events. Ella has previously served as a Discussion Group Coordinator for the Institute. She is a junior studying political science, psychology, and dance, and works for The Center for Undergraduate Research as a research assistant and peer mentor. Off-campus, Ella is a Legislative Policy Intern for Kansas Action for Children and a LoudLight Legislative Fellow. Additionally, she is a member of Delta Delta Delta and the University Honors program.

About the Dole Institute
The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, a vibrant forum for civil discourse, civic engagement, and idea exchange across the political spectrum, features historical archives, exhibits, and public programs for all ages. Inspired by the public service of native Kansan, veteran, legislator, and statesman Senator Bob Dole and his wife Senator Elizabeth Dole, visitor galleries feature changing exhibits, the Kansas Veterans Virtual Memory Wall, architectural-scale stained glass American flag, and September 11 memorial.