- Polk County Public Schools

A group of high school students from Polk County got to experience our nation’s government up close and personal last month.  Thirteen high school students from Polk County Public Schools traveled to Washington D.C. as part of Florida U. S. Representative Dennis Ross' “Congressional Classroom” program.
The program is a partnership between Congressman Ross and the Randy Roberts Foundation,a Lakeland-based non-profit organization which cultivates future Florida leaders by providing public service initiatives, civic engagement opportunities and scholarships.  The students were chosen by their respective high schools and were treated to five days in the nation’s capital.  During their visit, they met with lawmakers, visitedthe White House, the FBI Academy at Quantico, VA, the Library of Congress, and attended a session of the U.S.House of Representatives.  As part of the trip, the students kept journals and took photos to upload to their blogs.
After an interview process, 13 students were chosen from a pool of students to represent their schools.  The following students participated in Congressional Classroom: Ryan Phillips of Kathleen High, Mackenzie Nettlow of Winter Haven High, Miranda Vileikis of Chain of Lakes Collegiate, Ellen Foley of Bartow High, Cassondra Angu of Harrison School of the Arts, Daegan Hosler of  McKeel Academy, Guillermo Prichard of International Baccalaureate, Emily Nabong of Lake Region High, Thomas Hartsfield of Summerlin Academy, Kyle Lindemann of Mulberry High, Nancy Jaimes of Fort Meade Middle/High, Pierce Gillette  of Lakeland High, and April Jones of Frostproof Middle/High.