Contact: Melissa Reifert
February 26, 2007

MECC Students Travel to Richmond for Legislative Visits

Two groups of Mountain Empire Community College students recently made a special trip to Richmond to meet with members of the state legislature. The purpose of the trips was to expose students to the legislative process and give them a chance to make legislators aware of the needs of students and colleges. The effort, coordinated by Virginia’s Community Colleges, ensures that during every day of the legislative session, except Fridays, at least three community colleges are present in Richmond.

Students Elisha Alexander, Jessica Garland, Leslie Robinette, Sandy Salyer, Tabitha Sperow, and Kayla Wolfe represented MECC on the first visit to Richmond while David Baldwin, Sarah Rebecca Davidson, Lewis Garrett, Amanda Lane, Sharon Odle, and Bradley Sturgill represented the college on the second trip. These students, nominated by faculty members and selected by the Student Services Office, met with Senators Phillip Puckett and William Wampler and Delegates Terry Kilgore and Bud Phillips. By meeting the legislators who represent their region of the state, they had the opportunity to share their individual stories and discuss plans for the future.

The students were diverse in terms of age, majors, and goals. They were joined by Terrance Suarez, MECC President; Donna Stanley, Vice-President of Institutional Advancement; and Lisa McCarty, Publisher of the Scott County Virginia Star newspaper.

“I have enjoyed organizing the trips to the legislature over the last several years,” says Stanley. “Our students have a wonderful experience in Richmond and gain an appreciation of just how accessible our government is to every citizen. Our legislators are always very interested in hearing about the career goals of our students and how MECC is contributing to student success.”

(Left to right) Tabitha Sperow, Kayla Wolfe, Delegate Terry Kilgore, Leslie Robinette, Elisha Alexander, Jessica Garland, and Sandy Salyer

(Front row, left to right) Amanda Lane, Sharon Odle, and Sarah Rebecca Davidson
(Back row, left to right) David Baldwin, Bradley Sturgill, Lewis Garrett, and Delegate Bud Phillips

(Left to right) Tabitha Sperow, Sandy Salyer, Jessica Garland, Senator William Wampler, Leslie Robinette, Kayla Wolfe, and Elisha Alexander

(Left to right) Sharon Odle, Amanda Lane, David Baldwin, Senator Phillip Puckett, Sarah Rebecca Davidson, Lewis Garrett, and Bradley Sturgill

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