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Power of YOU students visit State Capitol

Several Power of YOU students at Saint Paul College recently visited the State Capitol on February 22 to learn about the legislative process. Their visit included a tour of the Capitol and an orientation of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches of state government. The visit took place during Senate and House Floor Sessions, so the students got to observe the lawmaking process first-hand. After the floor sessions, local lawmakers stopped by to visit with the students. The members included Representatives Tim Mahoney, Alice Hausman, Carlos Mariani, and Erin Murphy of St. Paul. Each of the State Representatives took a few minutes to encourage these students to complete their college education, and to stay focused on completing the Power of YOU program.

The Power of YOU is a five-year initiative, started in 2006, to significantly increase the post-secondary participation rates of students graduating from high schools in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Saint Paul College, Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC), and Metropolitan State University are collaborating with public, non-profit and philanthropic partners to create a system that guarantees two years of college — tuition free — for prepared urban high school graduates, supports them in succeeding in college, and offers “bridge scholarships” to lower division graduates for continuing studies at the bachelor’s level. In Fall 2006, 122 students met program eligibility and enrolled at Saint Paul College. For more information, visit the College Web site: www.saintpaul.edu.

Contributor: Jim Brown