Ten high school students from across the 70th District traveled to Springfield on April 10-11 to participate in State Representative Jeff Keicher’s first annual Youth Advisory Council trip.
Representative Keicher’s Youth Advisory Council gives students a unique, up-close and hands-on perspective of what it would be like to work in various roles in state government.
“I believe it is very important for our students to be engaged in current affairs, share their opinions on issues facing the state, and learn about how they can make an impact in public service,” Keicher said. “I was consistently impressed with these students and their ability to ask tough questions of our elected officials during their time in Springfield.”
Representative Keicher hosted the two-day Youth Advisory Council at the Capitol, where he talked with students from DeKalb, Hinckley-Big Rock, Burlington Central, Hiawatha, Kaneland and Sycamore high schools about Illinois government and policymaking. 10 of the 18 students on the Youth Advisory Council were able to make the trip to Springfield.
The students toured the Capitol, watched House Floor action from the gallery, and were able to meet with a wide variety of elected officials, including Governor JB Pritzker, Lieutenant Governor Julianna Stratton, State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, House Speaker Michael Madigan, House Majority Leader Greg Harris, and House Minority Leader Jim Durkin.
The students also toured the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum & met with legislative staff, lobbyists, and Bernard Schoenburg, the longtime political columnist for the State Journal-Register.
The Youth Advisory Council is comprised of juniors and seniors from area high schools chosen by their school to serve as representatives of the student body.
Representative Keicher serves the 70th District, which includes most of DeKalb County along with portions of western Kane County and eastern Boone County.
