NH Alliance for Civic Engagement Hosts the Student Voice Summit
by Kevin Preskenis
Bishop Guertin High School

Originally scheduled for May, but cancelled due to the floods, the Student Voice Summit was held at Franklin Pierce College Manchester on October 4. The annual conference convened 40 students, grades 5 through 12, and their teacher representative from 12 school districts to spend a day meeting fellow youth leaders and to work on their own group action plans.

The program was kicked off by guest speaker Scott Spradling of WMUR News 9. He stressed the importance of the youth of New Hampshire and encouraged the student audience to motivate themselves to make a difference in society. Following Spradling's encouraging words, participants heard from peers who are making a difference.

The Harrisville Civics Club explained how they turned their vision of the pumpkin as New Hampshire's state fruit into action. The group of fifth graders created and lobbied for HB 1111, which instituted the pumpkin as New Hampshire's first official state fruit. The Bill was passed by the House of Representatives in March and signed into Law by Governor Lynch in May.

Ashley Pratte, a senior at Trinity High School, represented the City of Manchester's Mayor Youth Advisory Council and discussed how much she enjoys participating in her city government. She showed her enthusiasm for the creation of such councils in other surrounding towns and cities.

Cory True and Kevin Preskenis both spoke on behalf of the Legislative Youth Advisory Council. SB 323, signed into Law in July, establishes a council of 19 students between the ages of 15 and 22 to advise the legislature, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House on issues and legislation pertaining to New Hampshire's youth. True, a sophomore at Saint Anselm College, discussed his experience serving on the Maine LYAC, which served as a model for the newly created New Hampshire initiative. Preskenis, a junior at Bishop Guertin High School and a member of the council, explained his and the council's goal to collectively represent the broad range of students living in New Hampshire.

The students and their chaperones were split into two groups, led by Joni Doherty and Zan Goncalves of the New England Center for Civic Life. They spent the rest of the day learning about and practicing deliberation and debate focusing on either teen violence or the perpetual education funding issue.

After much thought and consideration, the students divided themselves again to propose a set of action steps to a distinguished panel of civic leaders including Senator Lou D'Allesandro, Senator Margaret Hassan, Mayor Steve Marchand, Dr. William Nevious, and Jan Pendlebury. The students' suggestions were well taken by the panel. To conclude the day, the panelists commended the students for their efforts and civic engagement thus far in life.

The Student Voice Summit is sponsored by the New Hampshire Alliance for Civic Engagement. For questions or more information, a representative from the group can be reached at ccnh@compactnh.org.

Kevin Preskenis is a junior at Bishop Guertin High School and a member of the Legislative Youth Advisory Council in New Hampshire. He can be reached at kpreskenis@comcast.net.