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Don Gronning
CUSICK – For several years the Cusick School District has sent students to Olympia as part of its civics program. This year the district is going a step farther. This year 11 students are going all the way to Washington D.C.
“It’s the first year we’re going to Washington D.C.,” social studies teacher Ryan Markel said. “It’s an extension of the Olympia trip, which has been very popular.”
The Cusick School board decided to emphasize civics a few years ago, Markel said, making civics a two-semester course, a full semester longer than the state requires.
On last year’s Olympia trip students met with Lt. Governor Denny Heck, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, as well as state Sen. Shelly Short R.-Addy and state Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber, both 7th District state elected officials. Cusick combined with Chewelah for the trip, something they’ve done before.
Sophomore Jameson Oakes made the Olympia trip last year.
“It was a great trip,” he said. In addition to meeting the elected officials, student toured the Olympia campus. Oakes, who is in the Associated Student Body leadership, says he wants to run for president one day.
Miley Duclos, a sophomore, hadn’t been to Olympia before last year’s trip. She said meeting the elected officials made the lawmaking process more understandable for her.
The trip to the nation’s capital is more expensive than the Olympia trip. It will cost about $2,300 per student for the trip, Markel said. Students will raise $1,300 each and the district will pay the other $1,000.
To help the students come up with money, a fundraiser will be held Thursday, Nov. 7, at the American Legion in Cusick, with a dinner that starts at 5 p.m. and the fundraising auction starting at 6 p.m.
“We’ve got $7,000 or $8,000 of items donated,” Markel said. He said there are several Northern Quest Resort and Casino packages to be auctioned. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe also donated some hotel/casino packages.
“There are some smaller items as well,” Markel said, including handmade items, quilts and art. He said merchants were generous with donations.
The students rounded up many donations, including ski tickets to 49 Degrees North, gift certificate to Mellany’s Bakery and jewelry, to name some of the items.
Twenty-five students applied for the trip, submitting an essay. A committee judged the anonymous essays. Students were also judged on grades, and citizenship.
Eleven students were chosen, two eighth graders and nine high school students.
“It was a highly selective process,” Markel said.
The students are looking forward to the trip to Washington D.C., which will take place in March.
Four of the students have never flown before. The sole senior, Aaron Hoisington, says he wants to see the Firefighter Memorial and Holocaust Museum.
Michael Butler, a junior, has been to Washington D.C. before. He enjoyed seeing the National Museum of the American Indian. He wants to see other sights, such as the Washington Monument.
Markel says most of the students have never ridden a subway before.
“We’ll be taking public transportation,” he said, including the subway.
Markel says he would like to make the Washington D.C. trip an annual event.
