Highlight: Senate Scholar Program is hands on civic education

 

Each year high school juniors and seniors from across the state experience representative democracy first hand through the Senate Scholar Program. 

The week-long, intensive program takes place in Madison every February.  In our area, Tim Emerson of the River Valley School District was selected for the 2008 Senate Scholar Program. Here's what he had to say about the experience:

"It has been a month since the awesome experience I had at the Senate Scholar Program. This was such a great educational experience and one of the best weeks of my life. I have taken what I learned back to my friends, classmates, and teachers. They all were extremely curious about the week and after I told them about it, everybody said it must have been awesome. This week I will talk to the Spring Green Lions, who sponsored my participation, about all the wonderful things I was able to do."

The Senate Scholar Program’s rigorous curriculum is two-fold.  First the students are introduced to many facets of the legislative process.  They meet with legislative support agencies, legislative staff, the Governor’s staff, a Supreme Court Justice, the media, lobbyists and political observers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s La Follette School of Public Affairs. 

The students then put their knowledge into action.  When the Senate convenes, Scholars will staff the session under the direction of the Senate Sergeant at Arms’ office.  The week’s events culminate in a Senate Scholar committee hearing on a bill that the students have drafted. 

If you, or someone you know would make a good candidate, please have them view the video below and review the last year's application materials.  Preparing early can only improve a prospective candidates chances of acceptance to the program.

Video

Click here to view an informational video on the Senate Scholar Program by Senate Chief Clerk Rob Marchant.

Sample Application Packet