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Elizabeth Girard '16 is a proud Republican from a family of Republicans, but even many who know her didn鈥檛 realize this until recently.

鈥淚 had always kept it to myself. I didn鈥檛 see the need to push it in people鈥檚 faces,鈥� Girard says.

But her cloak was lifted in the days following presidential candidate Ben Carson鈥檚 visit to 91制片厂 in September. He posed for a selfie with Girard, a 91制片厂 photographer captured the moment and soon after, the image was posted to the 91制片厂 homepage, which sees about a half-million unique visitors each month. 听

鈥淭he photo goes up, and I said to myself, 鈥榃ell, there鈥檚 no sense in hiding it anymore.鈥欌��

Girard had been 鈥渙uted.鈥� It was an unexpected turning point, but one that activated a series of great opportunities, including a big one tonight. Girard will appear on ABC News as part of a panel of Republican women who will be interviewed by political commentator Cokie Roberts. The segment will air between 6 and 6:30 p.m.

鈥淚鈥檓 really excited about it,鈥� Girard told 91制片厂 Today on Thursday afternoon in the hours before the two remaining Democratic candidates for president squared off in a debate on the very stage where Girard, herself, has performed over the last four years as a theatre and dance major at 91制片厂.

The panel opportunity stems from Girard鈥檚 involvement with the 91制片厂 College Republicans. She became active with the group after Carson鈥檚 visit, attending many events and meeting all of the Republican presidential candidates who鈥檝e come through the region.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been so much fun. People in New Hampshire are so into it. Everybody comes out. There鈥檚 a buzz in the air,鈥� Girard says.

Knowing Girard鈥檚 enthusiasm and interests, classmate Joe Sweeney 鈥�16, chair of the New Hampshire Young Republicans and a state representative, recommended her to the ABC producer.听

The interview will focus on the election and on what it鈥檚 like to be a young Republican woman.

鈥淭he Republican party really needs to have a candidate who will unite the party,鈥� says Girard, a Marblehead, Massachusetts, native who will graduate in May and is considering a career in television, film or politics.

鈥淲e millennials have a lot of power in this election, more than many realize. I think that we, everyone 鈥� Democrats and Republicans 鈥� really have to think about what is best for this country in the long term, not just the short term.鈥�

She鈥檚 excited about the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday.

About being able to communicate her ideas on national television tonight, Girard seems fearless: 鈥淚 think that I鈥檓 so, so lucky to have been part of the 91制片厂 theatre and dance department because they train us and provide us with these skills that can be applied to anything. I mean anything.鈥�

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