TODAY: Sanders to Hold Virtual Town Meeting to Hear From Vermont Students

Updated: Student panelists will be joining from schools across the state, including Brownington Central School, Crossett Brook Middle School, Proctor Jr./Sr. High School, Burlington High School, North Country Union High School, Mount Anthony Union High School, Bellows Free Academy-Fairfax, Winooski High School, Bellows Falls Union High School, Peoples Academy, Twinfield Union School, Rutland High School, and Lake Region High School.

Burlington, Vt., Feb. 16 โ€“ Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will hold a statewide virtual town meeting with Vermont middle and high school students today, February 16, at 6:30 p.m.  

A panel of students will join Sanders for a discussion to speak about the issues that matter most to them. The panel discussion will be followed by a question and answer session about how the federal government can address the needs of young people. A number of experts from Vermont will also join the event to provide resources and answer studentsโ€™ questions.

โ€œI believe it is more important than ever to listen to the perspectives of young people,โ€ said Sanders. โ€œAfter the difficult years weโ€™ve all experienced, I know our students have ideas about how we can address the challenges we face and move forward as a country. I very much look forward to the discussion and to hearing about how we can better support and engage young people in Vermont and across the country.โ€

Vermont Middle School Student Panelists:

  • Lee Blanco, Brownington Central School
  • Grady Hagenbuch, Crossett Brook Middle School
  • Jayda Perry, Proctor Jr./Sr. High School

Vermont High School Student Panelists:

  • Ella Ambroggio, Burlington High School
  • Callie Beloin, North Country Union High School
  • Sam Blackman, Mount Anthony Union High School
  • Hunter Cargill, Bellows Free Academy-Fairfax
  • Khellmar Daring, Winooski High School
  • Joey Jacques, Bellows Falls Union High School
  • Max King, Peoples Academy
  • Ana Lindert-Boyes, Twinfield Union School
  • Gabriella Olsen, Rutland High School
  • Grace Wilson, Lake Region High School

Vermont Expert Participants:ย 

  • Jocelyn Bouyea, School Nurse, Shelburne Community School
  • Chad Butt, Executive Director, Mentor Vermont
  • Michael Hartman, Chief Executive Officer, Lamoille County Mental Health Services
  • Dr. Breena Holmes, Pediatrician and faculty member, Vermont Child Health Improvement Program, UVM
  • Tara Howe, Transition Program Manager, HireAbility Vermont
  • Holly Morehouse, Executive Director, Vermont Afterschool

What: Virtual Student Town Meeting
When: Wednesday, February 16, 6:30 p.m. ET
Where: Virtual event hosted via Webex; phone-in option available
Details: Vermont middle and high school students interested in participating in the Q&A session must register in advance at http://www.sanders.senate.gov/virtual-student-town-meeting/.

The discussion with middle school students will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the discussion with high school students will begin at 7:15 p.m.

Family members, educators, school staff, members of the media and the public are invited to watch the livestream of the event at https://www.facebook.com/senatorsanders.