"It was a good reality check because sometimes it's easy to become cynical, thinking (legislators) aren't doing anything, they're always wrong and they don't care what other people have to say," said high school senior Katie Gavenus. "It was nice to see they really are working and it really is a lot of work and I think a lot of times that gets overlooked."
Prior to heading to Juneau, the students researched current legislation on pesticides, genetically modified fish and a University of Alaska lands bill. Once in Juneau, there were sessions on how to form opinions and speak concisely about issues, descriptions of the legislative process, and tips on how to speak with the media and legislators and how to write to elected officials and craft letters to the editor.
"Basically, we worked on activities that helped the students develop their political identity, helped them develop messages that they wanted to deliver," said Willie Dunne, who traveled with the Homer contingent. Dunne is a board member of the Kachemak Bay Conservation Society, HYEA's sponsor. "The idea was to let the students develop the sessions and let the students take as much ownership of this as possible."
On March 23, the students put what they were learning into practice. Gavenus, Homer students Taneeka Hanson, Kathryn McCarron, Simone Schaad, Lindsay Olsen and Claire Thorington, and the other students took their message to the Legislature.
"The timing was really wonderful because the pesticide bill, which the group had decided they wanted to support and thought was positive legislation, actually went to the House floor for a vote," Dunne said. "(The students) got to be in the gallery as (the pesticide legislation) passed through the House. It was great, watching their faces as the pros and cons of the bill were discussed, and then to watch as the vote tally came up."
Immediately on the heels of the bill's passage in the House, Gavenus and Hanson had the opportunity to put their speaking-to-the-media skills to work when they were interviewed by Alaska Public Radio Network, as part of a story on pesticides done by APRN.
"We just went over what our feelings were on it, where (the issue) needs to go in the future and why we were in Juneau," Gavenus said.
Later in the day, the group met with the legislators from their districts. The Homer High School students joined forces with the one student from Kodiak and met with Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Kodiak, Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, and Rep. Paul Seaton, R-Homer.
Gavenus worked the subject of education funding into conversations with the legislators. Stevens asked the students for suggestions on where to find the funding, discussing the possibility of an income tax, sales tax or tapping into the permanent fund. He also encouraged them to research the possible development of Pebble Creek mine near Iliamna.
After meeting with legislators representing their areas, the students visited with the sponsor of the pesticide bill, Rep. Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage.
"It was really amazing for me to see these kids that I've worked with and known some since they were infants," Dunne said. "To watch them taking on such a leadership role was really wonderful."
After returning to Homer, Dunne said Schaad told him that when he signed up to make the trip to Juneau, he didn't realize it would happen over spring break.
"He thought he was going to get a couple of days off from school," Dunne said. However, the experience was worth the price of spring break. "He said he was really glad he went (to Juneau)."
Gavenus agreed.
"The more we talk to (legislators), the more they'll be able to represent us in the way we want them to," she said.
McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky@homernews.com.
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