Susquenita High School Hosts Successful Constitutional Convention
On December 12, 2023, Susquenita High School in Pennsylvania held its inaugural **Susquenita Constitutional Convention**, a milestone event that brought together students from various schools for a day of legislative simulation and debate. This gathering included student delegates from Line Mountain, Newport, Juniata, East Pennsboro, West Perry, Halifax, Millersburg, and Boiling Springs, all participating in a hands-on experience akin to real-world lawmaking.
The convention was uniquely designed and executed by Susquenita students, providing them the opportunity to draft, debate, and vote on proposed legislation using formal parliamentary procedures. Students were organized into committees during the morning session, where they presented bills, proposed amendments, established speaker lists, and engaged in discussions to advocate for or against various measures.
Terrence Shepler, a teacher at Susquenita and advisor for the event, emphasized the structure of the convention. “Students read the bill that they wrote, set a speaker list, and it all runs through parliamentary procedure,” he explained. “They take motions, hear speakers in favor and against, and then vote. The bill either passes or fails in committee.”
Following the morning discussions, bills that successfully advanced from the committees were presented to the entire delegation during the afternoon session. This format allowed all students to engage in a comprehensive debate on the surviving proposals, closely mirroring the legislative process from committee review to full floor consideration.
The inspiration for the convention stemmed from the students themselves, many of whom had previously attended a larger constitutional convention at Penn College. Rather than participating in a massive event with unfamiliar schools, the Susquenita students sought to create a more intimate setting with peers they knew. “This was completely set up, designed and run by my kids,” Shepler noted. “They wanted to do this. We knew it was a lot of work, but they were committed.”
Key figures in the organization included seniors Olivia McBreen and Oliver DiPaolo, who were instrumental in the coordination, logistics, procedure, and technology aspects of the event. McBreen focused on ensuring consistency across committees, stating, “I drafted up a script that all chairs could use so we were cohesive. I helped with Robert’s Rules and a lot of the paperwork behind the event.” DiPaolo played a crucial role in enhancing the convention’s technology, implementing an online polling system to streamline voting. “In other conventions, counting placards took a long time,” DiPaolo explained. “We decided to digitize it so students could scan a code and vote on their phones or iPads.”
The students also collaborated with their peers in different areas of expertise. For instance, Kaydon Brandt, a member of Susquenita’s tech team, designed the official convention logo and materials. Organizers faced the challenge of transforming their initial idea into a tangible event. McBreen remarked, “Making the vision physical was the hardest part. It was the first time we’d done something like this, so laying the groundwork took a lot of effort.”
The event was funded entirely through community sponsorships, which allowed participants to attend at no cost. Sponsors included **Leer Electric**, **Paradise Stream Family Campground**, **Rohrer**, **Spiral Path Farm**, **Millerstown Veterinary Associates**, the **Susquenita Blackhawk Foundation**, **The Perry Historians**, and **Your Best Behavior LLC**. Shepler noted that the total cost of hosting the event was approximately **$3,000**, with sponsors also covering lunch provided by **Moe’s Southwest Grill**.
Participating students reported that the convention significantly enhanced their skills in public speaking, organization, and civic engagement. DiPaolo, who plans to study engineering, acknowledged that the convention prepared him for future challenges. In contrast, McBreen expressed how the experience aligned with her aspirations of becoming an attorney and studying political science.
Organizers aspire for the Susquenita Constitutional Convention to become an annual event, fostering civic engagement and legislative understanding among students for years to come.
