[Archived] Alexandria Students Experience Virginia General Assembly First-Hand

 Alexandria Students Experience Virginia General Assembly First-Hand

Eight Alexandria students visited the Virginia General Assembly and met with their state representatives during 4-H State Capitol Day on Thursday, February 7. The students, Brian Anderson, Jamilla Banks, Lorrussia Brocket, Marcus Brown, Ronnell Cooper, Tiroune Oates, Isaiah Redfearn-Riley and Ebony Roberts, represented the City because of their outstanding participation in 4-H programs in 2007. The event, sponsored by Virginia 4-H, provides an opportunity for 4-Hers across the Commonwealth to learn how the legislative branch of government works and to express appreciation to their state legislators for their support of 4-H youth development activities.

While in Richmond, the students met with Senator Patricia Ticer and Delegate Adam Ebbin. They also met with legislative aides from the offices of Senator Richard Saslaw, Delegate Brian Moran, and Delegate David Englin to discuss different aspects of Virginia’s legislative process. The students sat in on part of the state Senate session, were welcomed to the state Capitol of Virginia, and received formal recognition by all members of the Senate. 

As an added surprise, the students met Mayor William D. Euille and Council members Timothy B. Lovain, Rob Krupicka, Paul C. Smedberg, and Justin M. Wilson, who were attending the Virginia Municipal League Legislative Day. The students ended their day with a tour of the John Marshall house after visiting the newly renovated Capitol building.

As the youth development service for the Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia 4-H engages youth ages 5-19 in hands-on educational programs and activities designed to help them gain the knowledge, life skills, and attitudes that will further their development as self-directing, contributing, and productive members of society.

Virginia Cooperative Extension works in collaboration with the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities to bring the resources of Virginia’s land-grant universities, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University, to the residents of Alexandria. For more information about 4-H programs in Alexandria, contact Heather Jones at 703.519.3325 or at hejones3@vt.edu.

 
From left to right: Jamilla Banks, Brian Anderson, Isaiah Redfearn-Riley, Marcus Brown, Tiroune Oates, Ronnell Cooper, Lorrussia Brocket and Ebony Roberts.