Legislator Ray Smith, Melissa Murphy, Maggie Queen, John Gaffney, Allyson Brosemer, Adam Levi, Nicole Redpath, Cameron Lenci, Stephen Gross (Dolgeville), Jesse Davis (West Canada Valley), Briana Brownsell, Garrhett Davis (West Canada Valley), Lynnsey Buckley (Central Valley), and Legislator Peter Manno. Courtesy photo
The Government Intern Program, sponsored by the Herkimer County Legislature and administered by Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program of Herkimer County, recently concluded its spring semester.
Fifteen high school students from four Herkimer County high schools, including Town of Webb UFSD, participated in the program held at the Herkimer County Legislative Chambers.
Local participants were: Cameron Lenci, Briana Brownsell, Nicole Redpath, Allyson Brosemer, Robin Yuckel, Melissa Murphy, Adam Levi, John Gaffney, and Maggie Queen.
The spring session started in February, with four sessions total, to provide students with insight into the legislative process.
Students reviewed issues, toured county facilities, interviewed county legislators and attended a county legislature meeting.
The program is designed to decrease public apathy regarding government by involving youth of Herkimer County through learning by experience.
Legislators looked forward to hearing from the students to receive their fresh point of view.
Students heard from guest speakers, got involved in the legislative process, researched topics, and gave presentations as part of the program.
All the students involved expressed their thanks to the guest speakers representing many departments in the county: Legislators Bernie Peplinski and Chairman V. Jim Bono for their visits and help in researching topics that made it an engaging experience, and Legislators Peter Manno and Raymond Smith who presented students with their certificates for the program and congratulated them on well researched topics.
4-H Government Intern Program is offered by the Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth development program of Herkimer County in the fall and spring of the school year.
More information about 4-H programs is available by contacting Cornell Cooperative Extension Herkimer County at (315)866-7920 or email herkimer@cornell.edu.
