Center High School Participates in a Close Up Experience

February 13, 2015 - During the week of January 18 thru January 23 nine Center High School seniors and juniors participated in a Washington D.C. Close Up program. The Close Up program is a study intensive learning experience which brings students from across the country together to learn how government functions and experience and examine varying viewpoints on many national issues. Students that participated with Center High School were from California, Louisiana, Georgia, Michigan, Florida and other schools from Texas.

This week in Washington included visiting and learning about the national memorials such as the Jefferson memorial, Lincoln memorial, and the Martin Luther King memorial. Tours of the Smithsonian were also included in the week’s activities and in the evening students participated in multiple workshops discussing the events of the day.

Major workshops included a Liberal vs Conservative debate led by active members of government based upon questions asked by students and a mock Congress where students took on the role of legislators and lobbyist. In many of these activities students from Center High School took on leadership roles within their groups. The students of Center High School were also able to meet with and ask questions of Louis Gohmert, our national representative, who treated the group to the rare experience of watching the House of Representatives in action from the gallery above the floor of the House. Many of the students thought this was the highlight of the trip.

The Students attending were Ethan Hairgrove, Kamden Lucas, Adam Reeves, Diana Espino, Taighen Mathews, Alec Lucas, Patty Romo, Macy Mayo and Jessica Johnson. The Sponsor for the trip was Archie Haddox. Another Close Up trip is already being planned for next year.