Union Local Close Up Students Visit the Capital
Eight Union Local High School students in the ninth, eleventh and twelfth grades, who are part of the Close Up club, traveled to Washington, D.C., last week to see the nation’s monuments, meet lawmakers and experience the city firsthand.
Ninth grade social studies teacher, Elyse Swallie, described Close Up as a nationwide organization that inspires young people to become more engaged in citizenship and democracy. The Close Up Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan civic education organization founded in 1971. The Foundation has partnered with schools nationwide to serve over a million students and educators through its programming for over 50 years. Its program teaches students to practice effective citizenship and to express their own viewpoints, while listening to others with tolerance and respect.
On March 1, Swallie and the students took a train from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., where they participated in the program, toured monuments and memorials and met elected officials.
While visiting Capitol Hill, the students met Ohio Senators Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted and Representative Mike Rulli. They also watched proceedings from the gallery of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“They (the students) are the future,” Swallie said. “Democracy doesn’t work without people making it work. I think it’s important for them to realize, meeting with our senators and representatives, that these officials work for us. They are our voice on a higher level, and it’s important for students to understand that citizenship and democracy are for everybody.”
“It was just a really awesome experience …,” Swallie said. “They participated in workshops about current event issues and how to actively participate in democracy in the United States.”
Students from Florida, California, Louisiana, Massachusetts, as well as fellow Ohoians from Edison and Toronto, attended the program during the week.
“Having the opportunity to have discussions with students from all over the country who come from different cultures and different backgrounds was a really cool experience for them,” Swallie said.
At the end of the trip, students debriefed and discussed their experience during the train ride home. They arrived back in Ohio on March 6.
“I think the kids really had an eye-opening and educational experience,” Swallie said. “I had several of them asking if we’re going to take the trip again next year, so I thought that was great.”
Union Local High School students stand in front of the J. Edgar Hoover F.B.I Building during their trip to Washington, D.C. Photo Provided by Elyse Swallie.
Close Up also provides opportunities for teachers. Throughout the week, Swallie attended programs where she learned more about history and connected with teachers from schools across the country to hear their perspectives on education.
“For me, education is lifelong, and I love history and learning,” Swallie said. “Being in Washington, D.C., just felt so immersive.”
Belmont Mills, Flushing United Methodist Church, Empire Fluid Solutions, Quality Environmental Service Inc., and Friends of Belmont County Divisional Courts donated funds to help make the trip possible.
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