GI Students Attend Project Extra Mile's Youth Legislative Day

Back to GI Everyday

Updated: 6:09 PM Mar 19, 2010

Grand Island/Lincoln

Three Grand Island students went to the State Capitol in February for the chance to observe the state's policy-making process, and to discuss youth alcohol issues with their senator and other state leaders.

Posted: 5:36 PM Mar 19, 2010
Reporter: Press Release
Email Address: desk@1011now.com

width:270 and height: 198 and picwidth: 218 and pciheight: 159

Grand Island students attended Project Extra Mile's Youth Legislative Day on February 24, 2010. Pictured left to right: Bryon Flamig, Mekenzie Keenportz, Hannah Vahle, Hall County Coordinator Becky Burks, and Senator Mike Gloor.

Font Size:

From Project Extra Mile:

Local Students Ask Senators to Join Them
Students rally together, address underage alcohol use in Nebraska

Bryon Flamig, Mekenzie Keenportz, and Hannah Vahle, all of Grand Island, were among the 45 high school students from across Nebraska who attended Project Extra Mile's Youth Legislative Day February 24 at the State Capitol in Lincoln.

The annual event is designed to give young people an opportunity to observe the states policy-making process and discuss youth alcohol issues with their senator and other state leaders. The youth were encouraged to take the days experience and become active participants in changing their community at a local level.

"We're excited to share our concerns on underage drinking with our senator," said Hannah Vahle, Grand Island Senior High student. "The senators we spoke with were very supportive. It was encouraging that they saw the importance of the bills weve been focusing on."

In addition to the individual senator meetings, students made presentations during a luncheon held to inform the senators of current alcohol-related issues facing youth in Nebraska and what role they play to help solve this complex problem.

"Working on policy initiatives is one way that Project Extra Mile focuses community efforts to change the landscape of youth access to alcohol," said Becky Burks, project coordinator for Project Extra Mile in Hall County. "The goal of our Youth Legislative Day is to give students the opportunity to observe and actively become a part of the policy-making process as an engaged citizen. Our hope is that their dedication to this issue doesnt end here, but carries on into the months and years ahead."

Click here to post a comment.