Inside Seven Days

More than 70 Vermont students who completed the 2018 Good Citizen Challenge gathered at the Statehouse in Montpelier on March 27 to be recognized for their accomplishment.

The Challenge invited K-12 students to earn points by doing a variety of activities related to civics, history, advocacy and media literacy — all crucial elements of being an informed citizen. These activities included attending city council meetings, picking up litter, reading local news articles, writing a letter to an elected official and naming the five freedoms specified in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Seven Days and Kids VT organized the initiative, with support from the Vermont Community Foundation. Its goal? To incentivize youth to educate themselves about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, using their communities as a classroom. Students finished the Challenge by earning 251 points, the number of towns in Vermont.

The Statehouse event was part of their reward. The Good Citizens met with Governor Phil Scott in his ceremonial office and posed for a group photo.

“I think it’s important for all of us to get involved and be good citizens, be public servants,” said the two-term Republican. And anyone can run for office, he said. “I certainly didn’t envision myself being in the position I am today when I was your age, not by a long shot.”
Speaker of the House Mitzi Johnson (D-South Hero) also addressed the group.
Representative Peter Conlon (D-Cornwall) introduced the students from the  House chamber floor; legislators gave them a round of applause. Afterward, each student received a medal, a T-shirt, a sticker and a pocket-sized U.S. Constitution, donated by Phoenix Books.
Seven Days Deputy Publisher Cathy Resmer congratulated the Good Citizens. “You have just as much right to be in this building as anyone else here,” she told the students in the Cedar Creek Room. “I hope that’s something you’ll take away from your experience today. This might be your first time here, but I hope it won’t be your last.”

Find more information and sign up to receive updates about the 2019 Good Citizen Challenge at goodcitizenvt.com. The Statehouse event is the subject of the April 4 episode of Eva Sollberger’s “Stuck in Vermont” web video series. Find it at sevendaysvt.com.
Other Challenge partners included: Front Porch Forum, the Young Writers’ Project, Vermont State Parks and Historic Sites, GameTheory, Phoenix Books and the Winooski Peace Initiative.

Here is a list of students who completed the Good Citizen Challenge, organized by town:

Barre:
Tyler Graves

Burlington:
Bella Olinger and Sam Reilly

Cabot:
Alan Moody

Charlotte:
Henry Bushey and Lila Bushey

Clarendon:
Ethan Bishop

Colchester:
Chris Palagonia and Ben Palagonia

East Montpelier:
Harvey Neddo, Joseph Neddo and Arthur Neddo

Essex:
Jack Dragoo

Essex Junction:
Isaac Dodge and Sawyer Kless

Jericho:
Henry Swisher

Manchester Center:
Lindsey Treat

Middlebury:
Henry Weston

Milton:
Hannah Smiley

Montpelier:
Thea Boyles, Teagan Brennan, Zoe Keuhl, Lily Meyer, Anna Newara, Somerset Pierce and Lachlan Pierce

Moretown:
Grace Heller

Morristown:
Hazel Longe

Morrisville:
Mabel Huard

Quechee:
Michael Leavitt

Rutland:
Jackson Kitts

Salisbury:
Riley Amerio, Thomas Bishop, Sophia Boise, Channing Brush, Meredith Cameron, Kayla Charbonneau, Keenan Chicoine, Ethan Delorme, Owen Flanagan, Josie Gaiotti, Chris Gile, Natalie Gillette, Vance Larocque
Jameson Maguire, Addison Moats, Emma Morrissey, Luke Nuceder, Yankee Rheaume, Sutton Rubright, Mercedes Sheldrick, Pela Slater, Makyliah Tellier
Tyreese Tucker, Gabe Velez, Cody Warner, Ada Weaber, Matt Whelan, Mykayla White and Holly Whitney

Shelburne:
Grace Warrington and Peter Warrington

South Burlington:
Rosalynn Manalo

St. Albans:
Ethan Oszurek and Sophia Oszurek

St. Johnsbury:
Phyler Holt

Stowe:
Lada Salida, Noah Vandenburg and Evangeline Vandenburg

Underhill:
Aly Dorman

Waterbury Center:
Janelle Hoskins

West Burke:
Ella Switser and Lucas Switser

West Rutland:
Miles Robbison

Winooski:
Graham Resmer, Ivy Resmer and Alia Ross