The Carver is proud to celebrate a longtime volunteer, advocate, and friend, Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, whose office has received national recognition for an innovative program preparing young people to become the next generation of civic leaders.
The Office of the Connecticut Secretary of the State has won the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) IDEAS Award for its NextGen Elections program. The annual award — recognizing Innovation, Dedication, Excellence & Achievement in Service — honors outstanding initiatives developed by Secretaries of State and Lieutenant Governor offices across the country.
At the same national conference, Secretary Stephanie Thomas was also sworn in as Treasurer of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), further elevating her leadership role among election officials nationwide.
For the Carver community, the recognition is especially meaningful because Secretary Thomas has been a valued member of the Carver family for many years — giving her time as a volunteer, championing our young people, advocating for our mission, and remaining a steadfast friend of the organization.
Building the Next Generation of Civic Leaders
The award-winning NextGen Elections program reflects a commitment that Carver knows well: young people thrive when they are given meaningful opportunities, trusted with real responsibility, and connected to experiences that show them the difference they can make.
NextGen Elections trains Connecticut college students to the highest level of poll worker certification and then matches them with municipalities needing highly skilled election workers. Students are compensated both for their training and for their work.
During the program's first two years, 60 students representing 19 Connecticut college campuses completed the training and contributed approximately 2,000 hours of service to communities across the state.
The program does more than meet an immediate need for trained election workers. It introduces a new generation to the responsibilities of civic life and gives young adults firsthand experience with the people and systems that make democracy work at the community level.
That innovation earned the recognition of Secretaries of State from across the country, who selected Connecticut's program for the national honor.
Leadership Rooted in Service
Stephanie Thomas became Connecticut's 75th Secretary of the State in January 2023, making history as the first Black person elected to the office. Her responsibilities include overseeing Connecticut elections, managing the state's business registry, and serving as the state's official record keeper.
Her tenure has included implementing early in-person voting, major investments in new voting technology, expanded training and resources for local election officials, and initiatives designed to make civic participation more accessible to Connecticut residents.
Yet those who have known Stephanie through Carver also know something that an official biography cannot fully capture: her commitment to service long predates her statewide office.
She has brought that spirit to Carver as a volunteer, advocate, and friend, believing in our young people and in the importance of creating opportunities for them to discover their own capacity to lead.
The philosophy behind NextGen Elections therefore feels wonderfully familiar to us. Carver's work is also built upon the conviction that young people should not simply be told that they are tomorrow's leaders. They should be given opportunities to lead, contribute, learn, and serve today.
We congratulate Secretary Stephanie Thomas and the entire team at the Office of the Connecticut Secretary of State on this well-deserved national recognition.
Carver is proud to celebrate the accomplishments of a leader who has given so much of herself to public service, and who has also given her time, friendship, and support to the Carver community.
Congratulations, Stephanie. Your Carver family is cheering you on!