AASG Fall Conference Report, Submitted by VHS Staff
Last weekend, eight Valdez High School students traveled to Anchorage to attend the Alaska Association of Student Governments (AASG) Fall Conference hosted by the Anchorage Schools Student Advisory Board and held at Alaska Pacific University. While at AASG students from all over Alaska debate issues, meet other future leaders, and promote school, region, and state pride through cheers and competitions.
This conference Gray Odencrans and Jackson Vincent kicked off the conference introducing Valdez High School to the conference. This was followed by Erik Vincent conducting our region meeting representing Valdez, the Mat-Su, Kenai, and Kodiak. In region meetings, students discuss resolutions and issues in a small setting before debating them in the larger General Assembly. Erik did an excellent job explaining issues, keeping debate civil, and holding an orderly meeting.
In the General Assembly, our students represented Valdez High School well. Jackson Vincent and James Humphrey actively participated in debates and articulated their points well in front of the assembly of 400 students. Our delegations also engaged in parliamentary procedure, making some moves not seen in previous conferences and ensuring the assembly got a lesson in how Robert’s Rules of Order can be used. All of our students showed their school pride through region cheers as well, and Valdez was heard throughout the conference.
The entire AASG assembly used this conference to shed light on issues throughout Alaska. Issues like school funding, subsistence rights, and special education were debated throughout the conference. The tragedy in Western Alaska was also on everyone’s mind. AASG conducted a supply drive throughout the conference and received many donations. They also held a freewill donation on Friday night and students contributed over $3300 toward helping those affected by Typhoon Halong.
As has been said many times, Valdez High School has some of the best students in the state. Wherever and for whatever reason they travel, they represent our schools and community in a way we can be proud of. This year’s group to AASG was not exception and they look forward to representing us again in April at the AASG Spring Conference in Juneau.