IN West Mifflin Summer 2017 | Page 10

LOOP IN THE C O N T I N U E D fellow students throughout the 2016-2017 school year. Special guest speaker Dese’Rae Stage, founder of Live Through This, will be sharing her recovery story and work on suicide prevention. Also present will be people recovering from mental illness, DHS personnel, school administrators, community supporters, friends and family members. STUDENTS, LEADERS ATTEND BREWSTER’S STUDENT GOVERNMENT DAY SEMINAR State Sen. Jim Brewster’s seventh annual Student Government Day Seminar, held at Penn State Greater Allegheny, included 11 local schools, 180 students, political leaders from Allegheny and Westmoreland counties and an array of officials from Harrisburg. “This was an incredible event for students,” Brewster said. “It gives students an opportunity to learn more about how an idea is transformed into legislation and passed into law.” Students from South Allegheny, Auberle, Pittsburgh Job Corps, Gateway, McKeesport, East Allegheny, Kiski, Baldwin, West Mifflin, Plum and Clairton gained an understanding of the legislative process by debating a measure that calls for mandatory treatment for drug addiction. The students attended two panel discussions before the plenary session. The first panel provided insight into the fundamentals of legislating. The second explored ways political parties are formed and what motivates citizens to join the political process. Students were then organized into parties, where they debated the merits of the proposed legislation. Brewster extends his appreciation to the officials from Penn State Greater Allegheny for the use of their facility and the assistance offered to ensure that the day was a tremendous learning experience for the students. n 8 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | West Mifflin L to r: Shannyn Roth, Dese’Rae Stage, Elizabeth Dennis and Michaela Mitchell from West Mifflin Area Middle School.