Students join the democratic process

Susquenita High School students took civic responsibility into their own hands by hosting a voter registration night on Oct. 17 as part of a problem-based learning (CBL) project in their civics class. The event, held at the school, was aimed at increasing voter turnout and engaging Perry Countians in the democratic process. The initiative was led by history, civics and economics teacher Terrence Shepler, whose students studied voter activity and turnout.

The decision to focus on voter registration came after a summer spent researching ways to make civic engagement more accessible to students, Shepler said. The idea was developed at the Apple Distinguished Faculty Institute in Texas, where Shepler worked to align the project with Pennsylvania civics standards. The timing could not have been better, as many students had shown increased interest in the election following the primary season last May. Growing curiosity among students made voter registration a perfect fit for their project, allowing them to tackle real-world problems without going beyond the curriculum.

During preparation, students immersed themselves in the complexities of the U.S. election process, focusing on voter turnout and the demographics of Perry County. Their research identified gaps in voter engagement, particularly in rural areas, sparking a desire to make an impact at the local level. To raise awareness, students created targeted social media posts, sent emails to key participants, and worked diligently on event logistics. The hands-on experience not only broadened their understanding of civic responsibility, but also deepened their knowledge of the factors influencing voter turnout.

Junior Natalyn Farhat explained how Susquenita students took action to increase voter turnout. “We saw that there was a decline … so we decided we would hold this event to hopefully increase voter turnout.” She highlighted the challenges of promoting the event, saying, “I think definitely the media and just getting the word out. We made a lot of flyers that we posted on social media, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.”

Farhat also found these efforts helpful. “It was really nice to see kids in the classroom who don’t always put their best effort into their schoolwork, but who really dedicate their time and effort to be here tonight.”

Juniors Kara Hockensmith and Anada Conley emphasized the significance of this year’s election in motivating their efforts: “Especially considering how monumental this election is. It’s really important to get people involved and registered to vote because their votes really matter.” They also reflected on scheduling challenges, noting that “the most time-consuming part was probably having every student in our class do a little social media post, and we also filmed commercials, some of which are playing on TV tonight.”

Although the class wasn’t sure what kind of turnout to expect, they hoped the event would encourage both students and community members to register to vote. Shepler noted that voter turnout in rural areas like Perry County is often lower than in more urban areas, something the students hoped to change. At the event, students helped with the registration process and shared what they learned about the importance of voting. Community members had the opportunity to register to vote and learn more about the candidates running for office, helping them make more informed choices on Election Day.

Shepler and his students hope the event helped address the low levels of voter participation they encountered during their research. They believed that holding the event in a familiar and accessible location, such as a school, would encourage younger and first-time voters to participate. By leading this effort themselves, the students hoped to inspire their peers to register, learn more about the election process, and make their voices heard. “This is about making voting accessible and empowering them,” Shepler said.

The event received support from across Perry County, including both the Democratic and Republican parties, who provided literature to inform participants about candidates running for national, state and local office. The Perry County Voter Registration Office was also present, offering paper registration forms, and iPads were available for those who prefer to register digitally. State Representative Perry Stumbo provided information about Pennsylvania election laws and voting procedures. In addition, the students presented what they learned from the project and demonstrated advertisements they created to encourage voter participation in the upcoming elections.

Shepler emphasized the importance of high school students getting involved in community activities. He believes that teaching through real, relevant experiences is one of the most effective ways to teach students about their role in the democratic process. The excitement and dedication his students showed on voter registration night was especially inspiring.

“As a citizenship teacher, I believe it is very important to show students how they can actively contribute to their community, whether through an event like this or other initiatives. This helps them see first-hand how their participation can make a difference.”

Shepler hopes that attendees left the event inspired by the students’ enthusiasm and efforts. Above all, he hopes the event will lead to increased voter turnout and awareness of the election process. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on their experiences by recording their thoughts and lessons learned in audio recordings that Shepler hopes to share with the community. The students’ enthusiasm has already made them wonder: “What’s next?” While hosting Voter Registration Night was a major challenge, Shepler said it is clear that students are eager for more learning opportunities through real-world experiences. For him, this is a responsibility that he is happy to take on.