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Glenn Heights-sponsored students describe civic lessons from Close‑Up Washington program
Summary
Eight seniors from DeSoto and Red Oak high schools told the Glenn Heights City Council on April 15 that a week in Washington, D.C., through the Close‑Up civic education program strengthened their civic skills, broadened perspectives and helped them forge lasting connections.
Eight high‑school seniors who attended the Close‑Up Washington, D.C., civics program returned to Glenn Heights City Council on April 15 for a presentation about what they learned and how the experience affected their civic engagement.
The students — sponsored by the city to send eight students and two chaperones — described workshops, mock congressional sessions, visits to memorials and meetings with congressional staff as practical lessons in teamwork, public speaking and policy thinking.
“Democracy is not a spectator sport,” student Ryan (recording) told the council in a prepared message, saying the trip reminded participants that “the power to create change is not reserved for the elected officials. It belongs to anyone bold enough to step forward, speak up, and take action.”
Mayor Pro Tem Cornell Benford II introduced the presentation and said the council had budgeted and sponsored the delegation last year. The students who spoke on behalf of the group included Jesus Guerrero, Yaman Hempstead, Alyssa Moore, Marquis Sasser, Chinte Chavez and Brooke Roberson; chaperones and teachers who attended included Ginger (surname not specified), Ms. McClure and Uchenna Waisu.
Students described a range of program activities. Several cited a mock‑congress exercise that required rapid research, debating and persuasion; one student said his mock bill — to impose congressional term limits — passed on the floor despite his effort as a con‑side lobbyist.
“My favorite thing was the mock congress,” a student from Red Oak said. “We only had 10 minutes to research and had to find the most persuasive argument and really analyze the issue with the policy.”
Chaperones and teachers described companion workshops for educators and said students and staff visited embassies, the Library of Congress and congressional offices. The group thanked Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, Congressman Jake Elsey and U.S. Senator John Cornyn and their staffs for assistance and access during the trip.
The students said they met peers from multiple states and some international exchange students, and that the program helped them practice civil dialogue across political differences. Council members thanked the students for representing the city and asked staff to post photos from the trip on the city website so the community could see the exchange.
The council chair and the city manager both reiterated support for continuing the city’s sponsorship going forward so more students from Glenn Heights can participate.
