With two high school students at the ceremony, Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation by Rep. Steve Bergquist (D-Renton) that’s meant to strengthen the bonds between students and their local community.
“Everybody who gets a high school diploma should be a good student, a hard worker – and also a good citizen,” said Bergquist, a teacher in the Renton public schools. “Lighting a spark in our students, that sense of community, the joy of making connections with neighbors and new friends through volunteering, the feeling that you’re building a better neighborhood and state for your kids and grandkids – that’s something money can’t buy.”
The new law (House Bill 1412) is aimed at connecting high school students with volunteer opportunities in their local community.
“Our system of democracy is built upon this idea that every person has a voice and a role to play,” Bergquist said. “School boards members aren’t professional administrators. They’re parents and volunteers. This spirit of volunteerism runs deep, through our smallest one-stoplight towns to our biggest cities. So that’s what this law is about, and I can’t wait to see what our students accomplish.”
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