East T-STEM's Tyler Finley, Tytiana Pope, Ivy Collins, Eryn Hollomon, Chris Bailey, John Carroll Storm the Hill!

From: http://www.scsk12.org/newsroom/#/article/1144

SCS Students Have Their Voices Heard at State Capitol During Storm the Hill

Students from over two dozen Shelby County Schools high schools recently made their way to Nashville for the annual Storm the Hill event to meet with state legislators and policy makers, participate in a mock delegation in the House of Representatives Chamber, and tour the capitol building and Tennessee State Museum.

Storm the Hill is designed to give students firsthand experiences in state government and sees participation from schools all across Tennessee. SCS students were able to share their voices and spend time with state officials including Senators Sara Kyle and Raumesh Akbari, Representatives G. A. Hardaway and Karen Camper, and a host of others. They also experienced House and Senate hearings and participated in round-table discussions.

SCS Board Member Stephanie Love accompanied the students on their trip to the Hill. She believes that an opportunity like Storm the Hill is vital to students’ comprehension and participation in political proceedings.

“It’s important for students to be involved in something like this because the students are our future,” said Love. “The students are the next generation – we’re getting older, they’re getting old, so it’s important for them to know and understand the process so they can begin now to advocate for laws or against laws that don’t serve our best need.”

SCS Department of Student Affairs organized the trip to Nashville. They also held training sessions for students in the weeks leading up to the trip to prepare them for their time they would spend on the House floor and with state lawmakers.

The nonprofit Tennessee PTA – the state’s largest and oldest child advocacy association – organizes Storm the Hill. For more information about Tennessee PTA, click here.