Washington, D.C. – Ottumwa Educational Talent Search TRIO students, Leticia Francisco, Sara Mejia, and Sara Neubert were in Washington, D.C. earlier this month examining current policy issues such as net neutrality, human cloning, border security and online privacy, discussing viewpoints for and against those issues, and researching, writing, debating, and developing legislative bills. Representing Ottumwa High School, they joined nearly 200 high school student delegates who aspire not only to be first in their families to attend college, but also to become future leaders. They participated in a Mock Congress to develop their leadership skills.
Mock Congress is part of the National Student Leadership Congress (NSLC), a rigorous week-long leadership experience in the Capitol for students across the country who participate in the federal TRIO programs that help students overcome class, social, academic, and cultural barriers to higher education. Student delegates who participate in the D.C. program are rising TRIO juniors or seniors who are nominated by their local TRIO directors because of their leadership potential. These students are current participants of the Educational Talent Search TRIO Program, administered by Indian Hills Community College.
“To really drive home the values of democracy and citizen participation, it’s important to engage students in activities that target their current issues of concern,” said Maureen Hoyler, CEO of the non-profit Council for Opportunity in Education, which sponsored this week’s event. “NSLC gives these students with high potential the leadership skills that will enable them to compete academically and to participate fully in our democratic society.”
During the NLSC week, the students sleep, study and dine on the Georgetown University campus, engage in conflict resolution workshops, and diversity training, and visit historical and cultural sites. They also meet their Senators and Representatives on Capitol Hill. The program is in its 29th year.
“This experience encouraged me to become a more well-rounded scholar and increased my ambition to excel in school,” said Sara Neubert.
Sara Mejia shared, “The best part of the week was meeting people from different places that have had different experiences than me. We met students from all over the country, Puerto Rico and Guam.”
“I learned that people have very different life experiences, those experiences don’t define them, it shapes them,” said Leticia Francisco.
