Thanks to a grant from the Alpha Kappa Gamma chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Honor Society for Political Science, ΄σΟσ΄«Γ½ students have organized an event to engage local high school students in a simulation to learn more about local government.
Model City Council will take place at 6:30 p.m. April 4 at City Hall, and is open to the public. The event coincides with Local Government Week, and, according to Professor of Political Science Laura van Assendelft, allows ΄σΟσ΄«Γ½ students to help teens from Robert E. Lee High School and Stuart Hall School bridge the gap between the civics classroom and the real world of politics.
βThe event will foster connections with elected officials and administrators in Staunton government that bring local issues to life,β van Assendelft said. βThe goal is to increase civic engagement by having students observe, learn, and then play the roles of City Council members.
For weeks, ΄σΟσ΄«Γ½ students have mentored the high schoolers, connected them with members of city council mentors, hosted an event at ΄σΟσ΄«Γ½βs Spencer Center for Civic and Global Engagement, and attended several City Council meetings and work sessions, and explored topics of local interest.
In advance of the Model General Assembly session, ΄σΟσ΄«Γ½ will host a private dinner and model work session on campus for the participants.