DECEMBER 2022
Students practice democracy during mock election More than 19,000 students from across Lincoln and Lancaster County cast their electronic ballots as part of Student Vote on Nov. 2.
WHAT’S INSIDE:
Student Vote is a Lincoln Public Schools tradition since 1992 that offers students the chance to participate in a mock election using the same local ballot that voters saw on Nov. 8.
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Students in grades four through 12 at every LPS school participated in Student Vote, which has been held every two years in partnership with KFOR and KFRX radio stations. This year, 19,698 ballots were cast. Student Vote coordinators North Star High School junior Mikey Pitts and East High sophomore Gabriel Buggi announced the results live on KFOR and KFRX radio stations later that afternoon. Student Vote is more than a one-day event. Students at all levels learn more about voting and the election process during the weeks leading up to Wednesday. For elementary students, there are lessons that focus on the question, “Why does voting matter?” For middle and high school students, “How do I become an informed voter?” Students voted with their Chromebooks. Some schools had students vote during their social studies classes, while others set aside time at the beginning of a period for all students to vote at the same time.
LPS K-12 Social Studies Curriculum Specialist Jaci Kellison took part in the first Student Vote when she was a student at Lincoln Southeast High School. The candidates and issues may have changed since then, but the purpose behind Student Vote remains the same. “I think of it as two important lessons. One is just that ability to participate in a mock election - that physical act of casting your ballot on Student Vote day is really exciting for students,” Kellison said. “The other purpose is all of the lead-up to that, everything that surrounds the Student Vote activity. Students are learning about the democratic process, they’re learning about what different offices to vote for, why you vote for those offices, what those offices get to do and how they impact your life.”
Connect LPS See more beginning of school photos from schools and programs around the school district. Page A8 Scottish Rite Award Fredstrom teacher Rochelle Settles honored as Distinguished Teacher of the Year at ceremony. Page A11 Veterans Day at LPS Students across the district celebrated Veterans Day with family visits and assemblies. Page A16 Table of Contents Page A2