Logan Lynxwiler ’27 was recognized last month as one of more than 200 students from colleges and universities nationwide on the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge’s 2025 Student Voting Honor Roll.
Lynxwiler, a history major from Blacksburg, Va., said she feels voting is key to a functioning democracy.
“I think it’s important for people to be engaged voters, and I’m somebody who very strongly believes that local elections count just as much as national ones,” Lynxwiler said. “This was my way of having some way to contribute to the community and to society. I had a civics teacher in high school who really helped with the passion, but it’s something that I’ve always cared about.”
Last fall, Assistant Director of Special Programs Megan Canfield, then serving as assistant dean of students, reached out to Lynxwiler and asked if she was interested in serving on Hollins’ Student Voting Coalition, which is affiliated with the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge.
“I was like, ‘How did you know? I love voting,’” Lynxwiler said. “I got started that way and then fell into volunteering for more.”
Together, Lynxwiler and Canfield revised and submitted to ALL IN the coalition’s final Voting Action Plan. And in the months leading up to the 2024 Presidential Election, Lynxwiler said she and other members of the coalition co-hosted debate watch parties with the university’s Student Success, Well-being, and Belonging Department. The coalition also invited students to register to vote in The Moody Center lobby.
“We had the paperwork in front of us or a QR code to do it online, and asked, “Are you registered to vote?” Lynxwiler said.
A large display in the student center lobby shared information with students on how to register to vote, how to vote by mail in Virginia, how to vote early locally, and how to find out what is on the ballot. The display also drew in some online registrations.
“We ended up getting 20 or 30 people registered to vote, which isn’t a lot, but for a campus of our size, it was actually a significant percentage,” Lynxwiler said. After the election, ALL IN named Hollins a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting. Then, in early April, Lynxwiler said she was happily surprised to learn that she had been placed on the ALL IN 2025 Student Voting Honor Roll.
“I ended up finding out with Megan, which was really special, because she was the one who nominated me,” Lynxwiler said.
Associate Vice President for Student Success, Well-being, and Belonging Tiffany Hinton said she was fortunate to work alongside Lynxwiler and others to support students as they exercised their right to vote last fall.
“Logan exemplified exceptional leadership and dedication as a civic ambassador during this past election season,” Hinton said. “She actively participated in monthly strategy meetings with faculty, staff, and students to enhance campus-wide civic engagement. She energetically supported voter registration drives and educational events and facilitated meaningful discussions with her peers about the importance of voting. Her commitment helped cultivate a culture of active citizenship among the student body.”
Lynxwiler said the Student Voting Coalition has plans to offer engagement opportunities to students between national elections.
“It’s what makes our democracy function. I think it’s what makes us unique. I think it’s what we’re built on as a nation,” she said. “I think if you have even a lick of nationality within you, I think it’s crucial to the functioning of the government, of our nation, of our local communities, and of our campus community. Every vote counts.”
