"Transformative, Empowering, Rewarding;" A Madeira Senior Looks Back

Please briefly introduce yourself.

My name is Ella Boylen and I am a four-year Day student from Bethesda, Maryland. Throughout my time at Madeira, I have held several leadership positions, including Red Team RAW Captain, Model United Nations Head Delegate, Spirit Committee Co-Head for four years, and Student Engagement Leader. Additionally, during my junior year, I served as the captain of the JV tennis team.

Let's start back at the beginning: Why Madeira? What made you want to spend your high school years here?

I chose Madeira because I am deeply interested in politics and was looking for a school that would let me explore that passion in a meaningful way. I also had several Madeira graduates living on my street, and my neighbors encouraged me to learn more about the school. They convinced me to attend an open house, and the moment I stepped into the library, I fell in love with Madeira. Ultimately, the program that sealed the deal for me was the Co-Curriculum internship on Capitol Hill during junior year, since it aligned perfectly with my interest in politics.

How has Madeira supported your interests, in the classroom and out?

Madeira has wonderful faculty and staff who have been incredibly supportive. In subjects that have challenged me, such as physics, I have had teachers stay after class and during lunch to help me truly understand the class material. The Co-Curriculum department has been incredibly helpful, especially Ms. Osborn, who connected me with the offices of Katherine Clark and Al Green, which helped me learn more about legislation.

Reflect on your Co-Curriculum experience. Where did you spend your placements, and what did you do? How did those experiences impact your plans for the future?

As a sophomore I volunteered alongside other Madeira students. We developed our communication and collaboration skills while leading classroom activities, managing lesson preparation, supervising students to ensure a safe learning environment. It was wonderful to foster positive relationships while learning how to  effectively work within a team to achieve common goals.

During junior year, I worked in the office of Katherine Clark, the Minority Whip of the United States House of Representatives. I synthesized daily news briefings on local, state, and national issues for office staff; staffed the weekly Whip breakfast; and researched and authored a policy memo on campaign finance ethics.

Most recently, I completed my independent internship with The Madison Group, a bipartisan, bicameral firm founded by a former Madeira parent, Mr. Robb Watters. To borrow from my resume, here are some of the tasks and projects with which I was involved:

• Collaborate with interns and staff to produce 30+ detailed memos for the CEO, senior staff, and clients
• Attend client strategy meetings with major companies, including Verifone, Google, Cerberus Capital Management, and the International Association of Fire Fighters, contributing insights and support
• Monitor 35+ hearings, briefs, and think tank events, producing targeted detailed reports for internal and external use
• Attend high-profile journalism events, including Punchbowl News interviews and Bloomberg Balance of Power filming with Joe Mathieu
• Network with CEOs and industry leaders, gaining exposure to executive decision-making

Through my Co-Curriculum experience, I've had the opportunity to explore my interests in education, public service, and politics through three very different placements. These experiences solidified my interest in politics and public service and shaped my future plans to pursue work that combines policy, leadership, and civic engagement.

What's a moment that stands out to you from each year here at Madeira?

1. Freshman year: The first day of school
2. Sophomore year: Founder's Day
3. Junior year: RAW Sorting
4. Senior year: Getting lost on our way to Senior Sunrise and lunch with all of my friends

Could you describe your Madeira experience in three words?

Transformative, Empowering, Rewarding

So, what's next for you?

College with a Major in Political Science and a Minor in Spanish

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