SCC student gets a first-hand look at MO Legislature

Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Scott County Central High School student Colten Winter is pictured with State Rep. Holly Rehder. Winter recently got to shadow the legislator for a day. Submitted Photo

SIKESTON -- A Scott County Central High School student recently shadowed a state representative for the day.

Colten Winter was selected to shadow State Rep. Holly Rehder through the Legislative Shadowing Project sponsored by Missouri FCCLA. Fifty-six students from around Missouri received the chance to shadow a state-elected official on Feb. 11.

This was Winter's first visit to Jefferson City and he said he was very impressed by what he learned. He was introduced on the House Floor, and he got to sit in hearings and even got to go to the top of the Capital where the Whispering Room is located.

"This was a great experience and I can't wait to apply next year," Winter said.

The Legislative Shadowing Project provides an opportunity for junior and senior high school students to spend a day with their state representative, senator, or other public official. The students observe hearings, meetings and other public duties.

Tours of the Capital, the Supreme Court building, and the Governor's Mansion were available and a dinner was sponsored on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 by the Missouri Bar Association. This project allows students to see how our government is run and helps them develop a better understanding of the political process and its impact on citizens.

FCCLA is a nonprofit student organization of young men and women, grades 6-12, in family and consumer sciences education. Missouri FCCLA has more than 10,500 members in nearly 350 local chapters, making it the fifth largest FCCLA state association in the nation. FCCLA is the only in-school student organization with family as its central focus.