Rockwood high school earns Governor’s Civic Engagement Award

ROCKWOOD ― A local high school was among 37 honored with Governor’s Civic Engagement Awards (GCEA) from the Pennsylvania departments of state and education during the 2022-23 school year.

Thirty-one schools, including Rockwood Area Junior/Senior High School, won Gold Level Awards for registering to vote at least 85% of their eligible students. Six schools won Silver Level Awards for registering to vote at least 65% of their eligible students.

In total, about 200 students helped register 3,519 of their peers to win Gold or Silver level awards for their schools.

“These prestigious awards honor high school students who engage their peers in the electoral process and empower them by ensuring their voice will be heard in determining the future of our country,” Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said in a release.

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In addition, 28 students from across the commonwealth won Student Poll Worker Awards for participating in a voter registration event at their school and serving as poll workers in their communities on Election Day.

“Those students who served as poll workers on Election Day played an especially important role in our democracy by enabling others to vote,” Schmidt added.

“The GCEA program provides our students with an excellent, hands-on experience in civics education,” Secretary of Education Khalid N. Mumin said in a statement. “Congratulations to this year’s winners, and thanks to all the school administrators, teachers, and parents who supported their efforts.”

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Rockwood high school earns Governor’s Civic Engagement Award