Program makes lasting impact on students who may not be able to travel to the states

The Junior State of America is bringing its signature programs to Micronesia in an effort to expand access to civics education. The program is bringing a civic institute to Micronesia a week for the first time on Saipan.

Laurel Fischer, Special Programs Coordinator for Junior State of America, said, "This is designed to be an experience for high schoolers to engage in conversation. They will learn to grow their speaking skills, their reading skills, their writing skills, and the main course is environmental justice."

High school students will also engage in JSA’s signature speech and debate program while staying at the PIC and attending classes at Northern Marianas College, the host campus. JSA’s summer programs span America’s top universities.

U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States Program Director for JSA Ed Banayat added, "We are hoping to bring that experience to students in the region that might not have access to expand our reach. We’ve got a great reputation, I think what makes us different from other programs are the students because we have a great reputation in the islands we attract a certain type of student."

This year’s cohort comes from across Micronesia with the goal of responding to today’s most pressing issues. Over 5,000 students from the islands attended their program made possible in part through a grant from the Office of Insular Affairs since 1991.

Andee Steinman, JSA's Chief Program Officer, said, "It is incredibly important to us as an organization. The students who are able to participate in our programming from the island and the territories are such an integral part of what we do and I think it was not until we felt their absence when we were virtual, that we tried to integrate as many students as we could, they were eligible, but with the time difference, it was difficult logistically."

They hope to continue to bring the program to the islands.