The annual Students Inside Albany (SIA) is a conference sponsored by the League of Women Voters of New York State Education Foundation, Inc. The SIA Program provides high school students across New York State with an extraordinary opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge about our state government. The upcoming 24th annual program is scheduled from May 19-22, 2024.
While at the conference students from across the state will join their peers in the experience of learning about the function of the New York state government. They 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, and media in politics. Additionally, students will also tour the Capitol and observe both the Senate and Assembly in action by spending an afternoon shadowing their legislators (Senators and Assembly Member).
The League of Women Voters of New York State Education Foundation, Inc (LWVNYSEF), sponsors one student delegate from each League in New York. However, Local Leagues have the option of funding an additional student and the LWV in Schenectady County has traditionally sponsored two students. The LWVNYSEF, pays for the entire conference (for one student), which includes lodging, meals and snacks. The conference starts on a Sunday afternoon and ends on Wednesday afternoon. Therefore, the student will miss up to three days of school. Each year students are invited from all high schools within Schenectady County. Last year (2023), the LWV in Schenectady County was represented by two students from Niskayuna School High School. The 2024 representative were chosen from four applicants from Schenectady and Niskayuna High Schools.
The two students who will represent the LWV in Schenectady County at this year’s SIA Conference this year are Sheyenne Harris and Pratiksha Gangadin (Sami), both from Schenectady High School.
Sheyenne is a senior who was highly recommended by her Math teacher and the National Honor Society Advisor. Throughout her time at Schenectady High School, Sheyenne has taken some of our most challenging courses, including Honor courses, College Credit Courses, and International Baccalaureate Courses. Outside of school, Sheyenne has many extracurricular activities as well. For example, she spends her time volunteering at the Schenectady Inner City Ministry food pantry and Fehr Farm, in an effort to provide food to the neediest within her community. Additionally, Sheyenne has been working with the Urban League to bring awareness about inequity and inequality in low-income communities. Sheyenne stated, “The Urban League has also allowed me to dwell on other important subjects such as academic inequity and inequality and voting among first-generation American citizens.” Sheyenne will attend Union College with a major in Political Science.
Sami was recommended by her School Counselor, who stated that she is delighted to recommend Pratiksha Gangadin (Sami) as a candidate for the Student Inside Albany Conference. She states that Sami consistently excels in academics, but always shows the initiative to go above and beyond to seek out opportunities for growth. Sami is a student in the district’s Early College in the High School (ECHS) program and is working to complete the high school diploma requirements and an associate degree from SUNY Schenectady in four years. She is a strong student voice as a part of the Student Council and an advocate for herself and fellow classmates. She has the ability to clearly communicate, foster collaboration and demonstrates a genuine interest in the well-being and growth of her school community. In 2019 and 2022, she was also awarded the Triple C Certificate which recognizes courage, character and commitment in students by the New York State Attorney General.
The LWV in Schenectady County would like to ask Sheyenne and Sami to attend the Annual Meeting in order to share their experiences at the Conference.
MaxineBrisport
Maxine Brisport
Students Inside Albany LWV Representative
