Elijah Espaillat

Congressional Intern, Presented by Walmart
Hometown: Ridgewood, New York
School: Pennsylvania State University
Major: Political Science
Placement: Office of Rep. Hakeem Jefferies

Elijah Espaillat was born and raised between the boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn, New York, by his single mother and grandmother. Growing up with his cousins, who had become siblings in a close-knit household, he navigated cold winters and hot summers without heat or air conditioning. His path would change drastically upon attending the Milton Hershey School, a boarding school in Hershey, PA, for lower-income families. There he was taught the value of opportunity and service. Elijah would go on to graduate, earning more than four different awards, including one for commitment to community service. 

Elijah currently serves as Vice President of Peace by Piece, a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based nonprofit organization empowering youth through life skills education and community service. Through successful fundraising efforts, he helped lead a service trip to Ecuador with the 2025 cohort, where they educated local youth about Juneteenth and participated in several beach clean-up projects.

Elijah is a student at Penn State Harrisburg, majoring in Political Science. He previously earned an Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies from Harrisburg Area Community College. After completing his undergraduate degree, he aspires to pursue a career at the intersection of public policy and human resources, contributing to organizations that prioritize equity and civic engagement.

Elijah’s experiences at Milton Hershey School and Penn State Harrisburg have provided him with valuable opportunities. He believes that every student deserves equal access to higher education and, as a CHCI Intern, aims to advance policies that make college more affordable and accessible for future generations.