Every year, Mountain Green Elementary fourth grade students visit the state’s capital and receive a tour where they explore the different rooms where each branch of government operates. This year, though, thanks to the efforts of Mountain Green resident and former Utah Representative Brad Winn, our fourth grade students received a special treat.
When students arrived, they were escorted into the Gold Room, a room reserved for meetings between the governor of the state and other dignitaries. Shortly after students were given access, Governor Gary Herbert greeted the students and allowed them to ask a few questions.
He counseled students to stay in school, get as much education as possible, and to exercise their right to vote when they turned 18 years old. He then posed for several pictures and shook hands with many lucky students.
Following Governor Herbert’s visit, Senate President Michael Waddoups welcomed our class onto the Senate Chamber floor, where he addressed students and posed for pictures. He also encouraged students to listen to their teachers, complete homework, and take advantage of educational opportunities.
Finally, the class was given another amazing opportunity to visit with Speaker of the House Becky Lockhart. Sitting on the rotunda steps, Speaker Lockhart encouraged students to become involved in politics at an early age. She shared her own experiences of being elected a representative at the age of 29 and how she strives to work hard each day to serve the people of Utah.
When asked the hardest part of her job, Speaker Lockhart indicated that knowing that she couldn’t pass laws that would make all parties happy was hard and scary, but she did her best every day to make right choices for the entire state.
Overall, it was an incredible experience and not one students will soon forget.
Former Representative Winn created some amazing memories for our fourth grade student body, as well as helped us better understand how our state government operates.