Columbia High School students in the Participation in Government class presented their group projects last week, proposing bills to classmates and then lobbying for votes. Legislative Day, as it’s known, is typically held in the auditorium with all of the classes participating together. However, due to social distancing requirements, each class chose its own winning bill.

As part of the project, groups select an issue that they believe needs to be changed. Then they work together to research the issue and write a bill and public policy proposal that is presented to their classmates and teacher.

The winning bills included:

Creating a Parent Drop Off at CHS
Emmanuel Baffoe, Paige Hausler, and Alexandros Wheeler

Federal Department of Internet Regulation
Ryan Johnson, Jacob Martin, and Christian Cirincione

Gym as an Elective for Student Athletes
Anna Puglisi, Anna Hallock, Lanie Smith, Kylie Matthews

Lowering the Drinking Age in NY State
Victoria Winter and Ella Patterson

Rebuilding the Albany Waterfront
Shashwat Panigrahi, Justin Sapienza, and Ryan Seely

Redesign the CHS Parking Lot
Rachel Pearson, Jackie Urschel, and Grace Warburton

Upgrading Technology at CHS
Nicholas Melaragno and Enson Tang