Students from across Alaska convene in Wasilla for AASG fall conference

WASILLA, Alaska (KTUU) – They may be the youngest politicians within the final frontier as scholar authorities officers from excessive colleges throughout the state have convened on the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports activities Middle to participate within the Alaska Affiliation of Pupil Governments’ fall convention.

Throughout the three-day gathering hosted by Wasilla Excessive Faculty, college students follow parliamentary procedures by introducing, debating, amending, and voting on precise resolutions that evoke change throughout the faculty district. Earlier this yr throughout the spring convention, college students handed 10 resolutions, together with a reputation change to the gymnasium at Polaris Ok-12 Faculty and permitting hats to be worn indoors at Delta Excessive Faculty.

The biannual convention happens as soon as within the spring and once more within the fall, providing ample alternatives for college kids to introduce laws on the scholar physique degree.

“I do know some Mat-Su college students are bringing ahead, speaking concerning the AP credit score for all that our faculty district is pushing for,” stated Karli Rauchenstein, scholar authorities co-adviser for WHS. “They discuss issues as small as adorning commencement caps to recycling packages or defending Indigenous girls in our state.”

As soon as a decision is learn, the scholars then comply with all the principles of parliamentary process by making formal motions to strike and amend whereas statements. The younger lawmakers then vote on every of these motions as soon as everybody has been given the ground to make statements and ask questions.

Not solely is it an opportunity for college kids to encourage change, it’s additionally a possibility for his or her voices to be heard — like scholar physique president for WHS Quinlen Schachle.

“It’s tremendous essential that now we have like, knowledgeable people that understand how the method works,” Schachle said. “Understanding it at a younger degree, figuring out how essential that illustration is.”

Round 340 college students from over 30 colleges made the journey to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough to participate within the democratic course of, which is finally geared toward offering instruments for the long run leaders of Alaska.

“Who’s to say that somebody that’s right here isn’t going to be our mayor at some point, or considered one of our representatives,” Rauchenstein stated. “It’s additionally a extremely cool place for them to get to know youngsters from all throughout the state and actually see who they might be representing and who they might be working for.”

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