ALBANY - New York State Sen. James L. Seward (R–Oneonta) recently welcomed Homer High School senior Emma Murphy, Dryden High School junior Laurel Deacon, and Cortland High School freshman Abigail Bowker to Albany for the 17th annual Students Inside Albany conference sponsored by the League of Women Voters of New York State Education Foundation.
From left, Senator James L. Seward welcomes Homer Senior High School senior Emma Murphy, Dryden High School junior Laurel Deacon, and Cortland High School freshman Abigail Bowker to the New York State Senate chamber.
“The Capitol is a living, breathing classroom and I am pleased to take part in this unique program,” Sen. Seward said in in a press release. “Offering students an inside glimpse at state government is a wonderful way to spark their interest in public service.”
Murphy, Deacon, and Bowker “shadowed” Senator Seward for an afternoon, spending time on the floor of the New York State Senate during the day’s legislative session and learning the inner workings of state government.
“The learning experience with the shadow students is a two-way street. Along with providing our future leaders with a better understanding of state government policy, it’s a great opportunity for me to find out what’s on their minds. As a member of both the senate education committee and the senate higher education committee, the ideas students offer are extremely helpful,” Senator Seward added.
Students Inside Albany is a program designed to increase high school students’ awareness of their responsibility in a representative government and provide the tools necessary for meeting that responsibility. Murphy, Deacon, and Bowker along with other students from around New York took part in the interactive, multi-day conference.
