Fifteen Valdez High School students got US History and Government hands on experience through the National Close Up program. More than 140 kids from six different states went to Washington DC for seven days and participated in the Close Up program. Chaperones Shannon Major and Kent Runion worked with students to fund raise and provide additional opportunities that included visiting Smithsonian musuems, meeting a three members of the Alaska Congressional Delegation on the Capital Steps, visiting all the war memorials. One of the highlights of the program for the kids was participating in civic action workshops and a mock conference.