Politics & Government
Local High Schoolers Become Town Officials for a Day
Twelve township high school juniors took on the roles of mayor, chief of staff, and others during a day-long civics program
Woodbridge high school students got a chance to see how township government works up close Tuesday morning – from the mayor’s chair, for instance.
Woodbridge township hosted Youth In Government Day Tuesday, inviting twelve local high school juniors to assume the roles of mayor, chief of staff, municipal clerk, and council members. The participating students observed a staff meeting and court proceedings, and held a council meeting to discuss topics from career days and volunteer fairs to concerts and sports programs to keep youth occupied.
Anusi Parikh, a student at Bishop Ahr High School, took the role of Mayor McCormac. “I think it’s great opportunity to learn about the town and the way it runs.”
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Kyle Anderson of Woodbridge High School played the part of Councilman at Large, a position typically held by his father, also named Kyle. “I thought it was a pretty smooth process,” he said of the mayor’s staff meeting he and his fellow students sat in on. “They touched bases on everything on the program…nothing got skipped over.”
Added Anthony Nyers, also Woodbridge High School, who took the role of Council Vice President Gregg Ficarra, “I have a new appreciation for what goes on here.”
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The students who participated in the program, as well as the township position they assumed, are as follows:
Anusi Parikh, Bishop Ahr High School, Mayor John McCormac; Patrick Anderson, John F. Kennedy High School, Chief of Staff Caroline Ehrlich; Jessey Rosario, John F. Kennedy High School, Municipal Clerk John Mitch; Elizabeth Stevens, John F. Kennedy High School, Council President James Carroll; Anthony Nyers, Woodbridge High School, Council Vice-President Gregg Ficarra; Kate Latkovich, Woodbridge High School, Councilman 1st Ward Charles Kenny; Kyle Anderson, Woodbridge High School, Councilman-At-Large Kyle Anderson; Alec Donahue, Colonia High School, Councilman 2nd Ward Rick Dalina; Katherine Trela, Colonia High School, Councilwoman 3rd Ward Michele Charmello; Desiree Batista, Colonia High School, Councilman 4th Ward James Major; Dannah Laguitan, Mother Seton High School, Councilman 5th Ward Robert Luban; and Danielle Gruskiewicz, Union Catholic High School, Councilwoman-At-Large Brenda Yori Velasco.
