The noise in Thunder Mountain High School’s auditorium was deafening Tuesday night.
Nearly 300 high school students from around the state were cheering, chanting, clapping and singing, all trying to outdo each other. On stage, a handful of students sat, hunched over MacBooks and passing Post-It notes back and forth in preparation for their presentation.
This scene is a regular one at the Alaska Association of Student Governments (AASG) annual spring conference, which was hosted in Juneau this week. The energy level rivals that of a sporting event, with all the cheers, signs and costumes to match.
Off to the side, Rep. Chris Tuck smiled and pulled out his phone, taking a quick video of the scene in the auditorium. Moments later, he stepped to the microphone to address the crowd.
“You can’t help but get jazzed after watching all these cheers,” Tuck said. “I can’t wait to share my video with other legislators back in the Capitol.”
The energy and excitement is a key part of the conference, as those from around the state unite and celebrate their passion for student government. The theme of this year’s conference is “Unity Through Diversity,” with nearly 30 workshops ranging from the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to succeeding in college to running for local office.
Holding the conference in Juneau had quite a few benefits. The whale watching and sightseeing tours went well, but probably the most valuable excursion of the week took place Tuesday morning when all of the students in attendance visited the Capitol and spoke with legislators and Gov. Bill Walker.
Justin Sleppy, the president of Thunder Mountain’s student government and one of the main student organizers of the conference, was particularly proud of the fact that the students went to the Capitol.
“We successfully got all 277 students through the capitol building,” Sleppy said, “so we can now say that many, many high schools from around the state have had that opportunity. It was a really cool thing.”
The conference is about more than cheering and sightseeing, however. Along with the daily workshops, there are also general assembly meetings where the students introduce resolutions, debate and sometimes pass them into effect.
One resolution this year stood out, Sleppy said. The resolution was in support of House Bill 115, which proposes using individual income tax and Permanent Fund investment revenue to help reduce the state’s deficit. The students voted to approve it, and AASG is now officially in support of the bill.
Tuesday’s general assembly meeting included a number of campaign speeches for those running for public relations chair, vice president and president. While there were a few millennial moments — one candidate reading his speech from his iPhone while talking about his high number of Instagram followers stood out — it was clear in each of their speeches how important they consider AASG. Many of the candidates had been to the conference multiple times and spoke passionately about it.
Hunter Carter, a Bethel student who won the presidential election, gave a boisterous speech about how student government is usually “swept under the rug” in favor of sports at high schools, and that student government members can become leaders today instead of sometime in the future. Another candidate, Elias Erickson of Sitka, also pointed out that those at AASG weren’t just preparing to make a difference through government. They already were.
“What we’re doing is impactful,” Erickson said. “It isn’t pretend. What we’re doing oftentimes has effects on the lives of others, and I would actually venture to say that of all the activities you choose to participate in during your high school career, AASG might be the most meaningful.”
• Contact reporter Alex McCarthy at alex.mccarthy@gmail.com or 523-2271
