Scarlet Service Stories: Sebastian Maldonado
Sebastian Maldonado, League of Women Voters
Sebastian Maldonado has always believed in giving back. His parents came to the United States in their 20s – his mother from Cuba and his father from Colombia – and always stressed the importance of taking part in their community.
“They told me and my sister how important it is to be a good citizen and to help out others who can’t help themselves,” said Maldonado, 21, who has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity since he was a freshman in high school, interned for New Jersey State Senator Andrew Zwicker and volunteered at Amnesty International. He also volunteers at a food pantry near his home in Flemington and spent much of this summer as a Scarlet Service intern with the League of Women Voters. “I couldn’t imagine not doing what I could to advocate for those who can’t or don’t have the opportunity to advocate for themselves.”
As the assistant philanthropy chair of Delta Kappa Epsilon, Phi Chi Chapter, Maldonado, who is now its chair, coordinated the biggest and most successful philanthropy event in the fraternity’s history – collecting $1,300 from its “Pet the Pup” drive that raised funds for charitable contributions. Prior to this, the fraternity had only raised $300 total per semester from its philanthropy events.
“I think it’s important for people to realize that fraternities are not just about partying,” said Maldonado, a political science major who was editor of the Eagleton Political Journal and is a current member of the Rutgers University Debate Union. “We are very much about giving back and doing what we can for our communities.”
The Rutgers Scarlet Service internship is giving Maldonado the opportunity to work with the League of Women Voters staff and volunteers, designing social media and other tools for nonpartisan outreach to Gen Z and other groups of young voters. Engaging those his age comes easily for Maldonado, who has worked as an orientation leader at Rutgers welcoming new students and their families to the university and serving as a resource, facilitator and role model.
“Many younger people don’t understand advocacy and the importance of voting,” said Maldonado, who plans to go to law school after he graduates. “So, it’s important to reach out to them through digital media like TikTok, try to make them advocates and make them realize how important it is to get out there and vote.”