Chambana Sun

High school students from the 51st Senate District gathered at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield under the guidance of State Senator Chapin Rose to explore the legislative process. This initiative is part of Rose's Youth Advisory Council (YAC) program, which is designed to educate students about Illinois State Government.

Participants engaged in a mock committee hearing in a real committee room at the Capitol. They assumed roles such as lawmakers, reporters, concerned citizens, and lobbyists, as they discussed a legislative proposal concerning the Mahomet Aquifer, a vital water source for the district.

Lily Rice, a student from St. Joseph Ogden High School, emphasized the importance of youth involvement: “It’s important for young students to get involved because we are the next generation who are going to be making decisions." She encouraged hesitant students to join the program: “If someone was on the fence about coming to Sen. Rose’s YAC, I would tell them to come because you will learn a lot from it.”

Jeremiah Todd from Fisher High School shared his enthusiasm: “I have always had an interest in politics and how the government works, so I thought this would be a really fun experience,” he said. “I really enjoyed doing the mock bill committee. It is different getting to see firsthand how the committees operate and how the bill gets into law.”

Senator Rose expressed his views on the program's impact: “This is a great opportunity for students to engage themselves in the legislative process. These students are our future, and I was very impressed by the group.”

The YAC program is available each year to high school students in the 51st Senate District. Senator Rose invites interested students to involve their teachers and principals in the program to facilitate future participation.