A Penn-Trafford High School graduate studying political science and business at Clarion University of Pennsylvania will get a firsthand look at national politics next week when he attends the Republican National Convention in Cleveland as part of two-week educational seminar.

“I'm very excited about the opportunity. Doing this will allow me to have a better insight into politics,” said Robert Ellis, 19, a Penn Township resident and 2015 Penn-Trafford grad.

At the Republican convention, which opens Monday, Ellis will be joined by five other Clarion students and hundreds of college students nationwide participating in the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit. Clarion University will have more students at the convention seminars than any other college or university in the nation.

“This seminar is an immersion into the campaign world, giving students numerous opportunities to study the nomination process from start to finish. The conventions give students an insider's perspective on the political process and a front row seat to history,” Washington Center President Mike Smith said.

Ellis is attending the convention as a student in Clarion University professor Kevan Yenerall's experiential political science course, “The National Political Convention Experience.” Ellis received a $4,600 Clarion University National Convention Scholarship to attend the seminar at the GOP convention, said Yenerall, an Irwin native and 1991 Norwin High School graduate.

“I'm very much looking forward to what it (national political convention) looks like ... the effort it takes to run it,” Ellis said.

The week before the convention, Ellis and his fellow students will do political science classwork including daily lectures and speakers — such as political scientists, party leaders, elected representatives and media members — along with convention site visits, Yenerall said.

During the week of the convention, students will be placed with a party representative, a media host committee or other organization. Ellis said he anticipates doing some security work during the event.

Ellis identifies himself as a Republican and said he has supported state Rep. George Dunbar, R-Harrison City. He said he was not able to be as politically active during the presidential primaries because of his studies.

Unlike some Republicans who have expressed reservations about the presumptive nominee, business mogul Donald Trump, Ellis said he is pleased with candidate.

“Robert Ellis is a very, very strong and enthusiastic Trump stalwart,” said Yenerall, who has had students at every national political convention since 2004.

Ellis said he has not decided if he will run for political office but he would like to do something with business and politics.

The majority of Ellis' fellow Clarion students are opting to attend the seminar in conjunction with the Democratic National Convention — 12 students will attend that event compared to six for the GOP seminar — Yenerall said.

“Based on my classroom experience and explicit comments from students, my assessment of that dynamic is the Republican field, especially Trump, was far less attractive to the students,” Yenerall said.

Yenerall attributes the greater interest in students attending the Democratic convention to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, whose campaign against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton fell short of winning the Democratic nomination. That convention opens July 25 in Philadelphia.

“Bernie Sanders and his set of economic and social policies — including affordable or free public school tuition — is extremely popular among the Democratic and Democratic-leaning students. Even though Sanders lost the primary battle, there was no drop-off in enthusiasm for the DNC seminar even as the students knew Clinton would be the nominee.

“The vast majority of DNC students are passionate Sanders supporters,” Yenerall said.

Joe Napsha is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-836-5252.

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