Name: Donald Trump
Party: Republican
Qualifications: Owner of several multimillion dollar companies
Schooling: Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Fun Fact: Trump says he has never used drugs, smoked cigarettes or drunk alcohol.
Slogan: “Make America Great Again”
Student Quote: “I like that he’s blunt. Most politicians are going to sugar-coat their arguments to the point that it’s lying. Donald Trump knows what he wants to do and he conveys that.”
— Aislinn Suelflow, 12
Name: Hillary Clinton
Party: Democratic
Qualifications: Former U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Senator from N.Y.
Schooling: Wellesley College, Yale University Law School
Fun Fact: When she was 12-years-old, Clinton wrote to NASA asking how she could become an astronaut, but NASA replied that women were not allowed at NASA.
Slogan: “Hillary for America”
Student Quote: “She has faced a lot of controversy with elegance and poise and is still the front runner. These are good qualities for a president.”
— Hannah Astin, 12
Name: Marco Rubio
Party: Republican
Qualifications: U.S. Senator from Florida
Schooling: University of Florida, University of Miami School of Law
Fun Fact: Rubio’s first job was building cages for exotic birds at his brother-in-law’s business.
Slogan: “A New American Century”
Student Quote: “Marco Rubio’s background proved to be very beneficial. Unlike most other candidates, he has the wisdom to think before he speaks. His story of success embodies the American dream. ”
— Austin Hall, 12
Name: Carly Fiorina
Party: Republican
Qualifications: Former business executive of Hewlett-Packard
Schooling: Stanford University, UCLA Law School, University of Maryland, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management
Fun Fact: One member from each generation of Fiorina’s family is named after ancestors who died during the Civil War, including Fiorina herself.
Slogan: “New Possibilities, Real Leadership”
Student Quote: “She’s a really powerful woman. She has proved to be a strong leader, and her personality shows that she will get things done.”
— Ellis Young, 12
Name: Bernie Sanders
Party: Democratic
Qualifications: Independent U.S. Senator from Vermont who calls himself a “democratic socialist”
Schooling: University of Chicago
Fun Fact: Sanders is an accomplished folk musician, having released an album called We Shall Overcome with a variety of Vermont musicians.
Slogan: “A Future To Believe In”
Student Quote: “I don’t understand why so many people are afraid of having a socialist president. America has so many socialist values already, and I like that Bernie is not afraid to show it. I like that even though he’s an older candidate, he still relates with younger generations.”
— Emma Allison, 12
Name: Ben Carson
Party: Republican
Qualifications: Author and retired pediatric neurosurgeon
Schooling: Yale University, University of Michigan
Fun Fact: Carson was the first surgeon to successfully separate conjoined twins who were connected at the head.
Slogan: “Heal + Inspire + Revive”
Student Quote: “I like Carson because he is not political. We need someone in office that has looked from the outside in and knows what changes need to be made. He’s grounded with Christian values and is more down-to-earth than any of the other candidates.”
— Tristan Tilson, 12
By Katie Farina
All photos used as Creative Commons.
