High schoolers 'suit up' as senators

Students from 18 schools in five counties – Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga and Union – each enjoyed the opportunity to be a “Senator for a Day” during state Sen. Gene Yaw’s annual Student Government Seminar, held at Pennsylvania College of Technology on Thursday. The counties involved encompass the 23rd Senate District.

The full-day event – the largest Senate-organized student government seminar in the Commonwealth – offers high school students an in-depth glimpse into state government as they served on mock Senate committees, developing positions on legislation, debating issues in front of their classmates, and learning what it takes to get a law passed or defeated. 

The morning “Senate session” opened with a discussion on how the legislative process works, followed by committees drafting laws for the “full Senate” to consider in the afternoon session, where committee chairs presented bills and final votes were made. Issues debated covered a range of topics, including restricting cell phone use, chemicals in astroturf, lead in drinking water and preventing bullying.

Participating schools were: Athens Area High School, Grace Christian Academy, Jersey Shore Area High School, Lewisburg Area High School, Loyalsock Township High School, Mifflinburg Area High School, Montgomery Area High School, Montoursville Area High School, Muncy High School, North Penn–Liberty Junior/Senior High School, Saint John Neumann Regional Academy, South Williamsport Area Junior/Senior High School, Sullivan County High School, Towanda Area Junior/Senior High School, Troy Junior/Senior High School, Wellsboro Area High School, Williamsport Area High School and Wyalusing Valley Junior/Senior High School.

The students were welcomed to campus by Penn College President Michael J. Reed, who noted the seminar is "a great opportunity to foster relationships with all of the participants and, potentially, to determine your own career pathways."

A key feature of the gathering is to highlight future internship and employment opportunities and encourage public service. State and local officials, as well as other community leaders, lobbyists and media are among those in attendance, willing to engage with students and their teachers. Among the officials present on Thursday were: state Secretary of Labor & Industry Nancy A. Walker, Sen. Dave Argall (R-29), Rep. Jamie Flick (R-83) and Rep. Joe Hamm (R-84). 

Yaw is chair of Penn College's Board of Directors.