Moapa Valley Progress
Three Moapa Valley High School students participated in the Sun Youth Forum in Las Vegas on Thursday, November 29.
The annual event, which is sponsored by the Las Vegas Sun, began in 1955 as an opportunity for local youth to discuss relevant world issues. In its first year, the forum featured 96 students from five Vegas high schools. This year, it included more than 1,000 students from 50 Clark County schools.
Attendees chose beforehand which topics they wanted to focus on. MVHS senior Mikelle Ericksen joined the “America” group, where nationwide issues were discussed. Senior Gabrielle Shiozawa took part in “Potpourri,” which featured a wide range of political and social topics. Junior Anna Bush participated in “School Days,” which addressed school funding and other educational issues.
MVHS government and history teacher Charlie Cooper, who has attended the forum for 14 years, commented, “I think it’s a great opportunity for kids in our valley to intermingle with kids from Vegas and see things from perspectives that we don’t always see out in the valley. I think it’s also a great experience to be able to voice opinions about things that concern you.”
Ericksen remarked that she was “apprehensive” going into the experience but was pleasantly surprised by the respect and maturity of the students she interacted with.
“I enjoyed having this polite discourse with people,” said Ericksen. “Everyone was very courteous, and it was really cool to see different people’s points of view. It really broadened my perspective!”
Bush added that the Sun Youth Forum was a unifying experience for her and that she was able to see similar values among the students with whom she talked.
“I was able to see a whole bunch of perspectives and find that, honestly, we’re all looking toward the same goals,” she said. “We all want the same things for ourselves.”
Shiozawa commented that the forum gave her hope for the future of America. “If our future leaders are anything like the caring and well-informed people I visited with, I know we will be able to make great progress in our nation.”
Shiozawa was chosen to represent her discussion group at the Sun Youth Luncheon on December 13. She was also asked to write an article for the Las Vegas Sun about her experiences at the forum.
“My main goal in attending the forum was being chosen to write that article,” commented Shiozawa. “I am grateful for this opportunity and am looking forward to being able to continue to share my voice.”
