Goodrich-Nick McElrath may be outranked and outnumbered by everyone at the table, but he’s at ease with the Atlas Township Board.
The Goodrich High School senior is part of the Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) program.
Although he doesn’t actually have a vote, Nick gets a board packet, his own seat at the table, and the opportunity to represent the student voice in township business.
‘A lot of input I give to the board is based on what I observe at the school,? said Nick.
The Leaders of Tomorrow program, started by Goodrich Village Council member Angie Adamec is in its third year.
‘Studies show that young people are largely missing from politics these days,? said Adamec, who asserts that LOT students are ‘exposed to parliamentary procedure, legislative action, budgeting, and a wide range of community issues.?
‘The program has great potential for both the community and the student,? she said.
LOT is run through Goodrich High School.
‘We’ve had a number of students serve on different boards,? said Goodrich High School counselor Geri Hammill. ‘It’s wonderful exposure to see and do and experience real life in action right in the community.?
‘It’s a good experience so you know what’s going on,? says Nick. ‘I’ve learned a ton. It’s unbelievable what I didn’t know about local government before as compared to now.?
In a real estate purchase, for example, Nick plans to check out information available at the township hall before buying a piece of property.
‘It’s an excellent program,? says Atlas Township Supervisor Paul Amman. ‘It gives young people an opportunity to get involved in government at the local level at an early age so they can understand things that go on. The bottom line is this is where things happen.?
?(Nick) does a good job,? says Amman.
‘It kind of helps because I plan to go into political science in college,? said Nick, who hopes to enter politics at a state level.
The Village of Goodrich is seeking a LOT representative.
‘We welcome students, but we don’t have anybody right now,? said Goodrich Village Administrator Jakki Sidge.
While a village resident would be a preferable LOT candidate, a township resident would also be welcome, said Sidge.
Due to heavy student schedules, participation has been lower this year, says Hammill, who feels the program would benefit all students, regardless of career aspirations.
‘Sometimes it’s a good way to figure out what you want to pursue before paying $15,000 for the first year (of college),? she said.
Practical experience is often as valuable as textbook knowledge, Hammill added.
Michael Telliga is a 2003 graduate of Goodrich High School. He served as a LOT student representative on the Village of Goodrich council his junior and senior years, then went on to work in the Michigan House of Representatives. He’s now a student at the Univeristy of Arizona, and plans to major in political science.
‘It was really an interesting experience to learn about politics on a local level,? said Telliga, who says he’s been ‘big into politics? his entire life.
Telliga hopes to return to work in the Michigan House, and feels it’s a plus to learn the system from the inside-out. And it was ‘nice to be sitting up front in my own chair with my own nametag,? said Telliga, who participated in village council discussions regarding widening M-15.
Telliga wholeheartedly recommends LOT.
‘It’s a great experience for anybody,? he said. ‘You get insight into how people in the community react in different situations.?
While Telliga heard about the program through Hammill, it was Amman who recruited Nick into the program. As Nick will be leaving this year, Amman is eyeing a replacement for his board.
‘The problem is you get youngsters to do the job, they graduate and they’re no longer eligible,? said Amman. The supervisor and student representative make it a point to hassle each other at board meetings.
‘Now as far as the road commission signs,? says a half-grinning Nick, lifting his eyebrows at township supervisor Paul Amman, ‘I’m just checking as to the status.?
When the Goodrich cross country state championship signs go up in Atlas Township, students can thank Nick. It was his idea.