Seward Welcomes Shadow Students to Capitol

ALBANY, 05/25/17 -- State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I/Ref – Oneonta) this week welcomed high school students from Cortland, Otsego, and Tompkins counties to Albany for the 17^th annual Students Inside Albany conference sponsored by the League of Women Voters of New York State Education Foundation.

“The Capitol is a living, breathing classroom and I am pleased to take part in this unique program,” said Senator Seward.  “Offering students an inside glimpse at state government is a wonderful way to spark their interest in public service.”

Cooperstown High School junior Ted Mebust, Homer High School senior Emma Murphy, Dryden High School junior Laurel Deacon, and Cortland High School freshman Abigail Bowker “shadowed” Senator Seward for an afternoon, spending time on the floor of the New York State Senate during the day’s legislative session and learning the inner workings of state government.

“The learning experience with the shadow students is a two-way street.   Along with providing our future leaders with a better understanding of state government policy, it’s a great opportunity for me to find out what’s on their minds.  As a member of both the senate education committee and the senate higher education committee, the ideas students offer are extremely helpful,” Senator Seward added.

Students Inside Albany is a program designed to increase high school students’ awareness of their responsibility in a representative government and provide the tools necessary for meeting that responsibility.  Mebust, Murphy, Deacon, and Bowker along with other students from around New York took part in the interactive conference.

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