Department of State Honors Canon-McMillan High School for Voter Registration Achievement
anon-Mac CANON-MAC SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
Pennsylvania ' s Department of state recently honored Canon-McMillan High School and its students with The Governor ' s Civic Engagement Award for their efforts to encourage voting and civic participation. The high school is one of only 15 schools in the state to achieve such an honor.
“ The Governor’ s Civic Engagement Award recognizes the efforts of the next generation of leaders to educate their fellow students about their right to vote and engage them in the voting process as soon as they are eligible,” Robert Torres said.“ It is heartening to see young people so eager to participate in our democracy.”
The award is a cooperative effort by the Departments of Education and State, in collaboration with Inspire U. S., a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to transform young leaders’ inspiration into action. The program offers resources and guidance for student leaders as they educate their peers regarding the electoral process and the importance of civic engagement.
Qualification for the award is measured by the percentage of voter registrations among a school’ s eligible student population. Students may register to vote if they are 18 years of age or will turn 18 on or before the date of the next primary, special, municipal, or general election. How did Canon-McMillan measure up? Schools that attained 85-percent voter registration among their eligible student populations qualified for the Gold Level award, while those that register 65 percent will be honored with the Silver Level award.
Canon-McMillan Senior High School achieved 99-percent registration of eligible students.
The Governor’ s Civic Engagement Award was instituted at the beginning of the 2017-18 school year. Since then, just 15 schools have qualified for the award.
High schools can sign up directly with Inspire U. S., which will support student leaders as they coordinate peer-to-peer voter registration drives and efforts to get out the vote. Inspire U. S. also assists with materials and data management, and in organizing school celebrations and recognition events.
The Pennsylvania Departments of State and Education, in collaboration with Inspire US, are excited to launch the Governor’ s Civic Engagement Award for high schools throughout the state. The award is intended to recognize and commemorate the efforts of the next generation of leaders to educate, engage and inform their fellow students about how to get involved in the voting process. Their success will be measured by voter registration figures among their school’ s eligible student population.
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