Students in Mr. Kersikoski’s AP United States Government and Politics class were given the opportunity to join Senator Judith Schwank on the floor of the Senate in Harrisburg to brainstorm and produce bills as “Model Senators”. Juniors Olivia Tipton, Cadence Hoke, Nate Torres, and Ian Levering participated in the program during which they were assigned parties and committees, such as education, workforce, and medicine. Similar to Model United Nations, these students were asked to act like senators, sitting in on committees and caucus meetings, along with electing a governor. Governmental lobbyists and experts from Harrisburg sat in on these sessions and answered questions for our mock senators enriching the learning experience. Working with many other students from around the county, our Wyomissing Area students learned about the process of amending and changing bills to make them more beneficial after participating in the debate.
Following the initial meetings and preparation, our students were geared up with information about making and signing legislation and were ready to take it to the capital, Harrisburg. Senator Schwank provided students with a tour of the capitol building during which our Spartans bumped into Lieutenant Governor John Federman who welcomed them and answered additional questions. Following these introductions, the students were then brought to the floor of the senate to sit in the balconies. Our students proudly and confidently argued and voted on their bills as if they were being processed through the Senate. This being Wyomissing Area’s first time participating in Model Senate, Mr. K is hoping to keep joining, if invited, to provide this opportunity for more of his students.