LOCAL STUDENTS ATTENDED LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
STUDENTS INSIDE ALBANY PROGRAM
The League of Women Voters of the Cooperstown Area and the League of Women Voters of the Oneonta Area named delegates to attend the 23rd Students Inside Albany program that was held in Albany from May 21-24. Zachary Grygiel, a junior at Oneonta High School was the delegate from the LWV of the Oneonta Area. The LWV of the Cooperstown Area sent two delegates: Olivia Loewenguth, a junior at Cooperstown High School, and Maeve Robinson, a junior at Edmeston High School. While there, Senator Peter Oberaker, who represents the 51st Senate District, gave the students an insider's look at the workings of the senate.
The League of Women Voters of New York State Education Foundation, Inc. sponsors one delegate from each League in the state to the program; local Leagues may fund additional students. Students Inside Albany (SIA) brought 60 students from across the state to Albany to get a first-hand education about their state government. The program is designed to increase high school students’ awareness of their responsibility in representative government and provide information about the tools necessary for meeting that responsibility.
“Offering students an inside glimpse of state government is a positive way to start them on the road to public service and I thank the League of Women Voters for continuing this constructive event,” said Senator Oberacker. “Along with helping the students learn more about the role of a state senator this was a terrific learning experience for me. This group of future leaders offered keen insights and came prepared with perceptive questions – I look forward to witnessing what they accomplish moving forward.”
Zachary, a National Honor Society student, takes part in the leadership of a number of clubs at Oneonta High School, including student council, Future Business Leaders of America, and Students Against Destructive Decisions
Maeve plays varsity soccer, basketball and softball and is in the National Honor Society. Olivia is an active member of many clubs, including Envirothon, Leo Club, and Litmag, and has been part of the Glimmerglass Youth Opera and Voices of Cooperstown.
“Congratulations to Olivia, Maeve, and Zachary,” said Maureen Murray, co-president of the LWV Cooperstown Area. “We are very happy they will have this experience in Albany. SIA is a wonderful experience and a perfect example of how the League tries to prepare young people to be good citizens.
“We also want to thank all the candidates who applied for the scholarship,” said Maria Kaltenbach, the Cooperstown League’s coordinator for Students Inside Albany. Lisa Samols coordinated the process for the Oneonta League.
While at the conference, students joined their peers in a hands-on learning experience about how state government works. Students will participate in a series of interactive lectures on topics such as the state budget process, the role of lobbyists in the legislative process, citizen rights to access government information, the role of media in politics, and the move to reform state government. While in Albany, the students will have an opportunity to tour the state’s Capitol. The highlight for many of the students, including our local SIA delegates, was the opportunity to shadow their Senators and their Assemblymember for an afternoon attending session on the Chamber floors.
For more information visit the LWV of the Cooperstown Area, website at:https://my.lwv.org/new-york/cooperstown-area or the LWV Oneonta website https://www.lwvoneonta.org/. For more information on the League of Women Voters of New York State Education Foundation, Inc., or the Students Inside Albany program, go to: www.lwvny.org.
