These Fayette High School students will participate in “Close Up,” a series of government study seminars in Washington, D.C., during the week of March 23-28. Students going are pictured above. Front row: Stacia Wells, Sadie Williams, Laura Head; back row: Ethan Harper, Jack Schoephoerster and Zach Olson.Fayette High School students Sadie Williams, Ethan Harper, Laura Head, Zach Olson, Jack Schoephoerster and Stacia Wells will participate in “Close Up,” a series of government study seminars in Washington, D.C., during the week of March 23-28. Fayette High School teacher Randy Hutchinson says the local students have been invited by the Close Up Foundation to attend the weeklong nonpartisan government studies program, in which the nation’s capital becomes their classroom.

Hutchinson says that while the students are in Washington, they will meet with and question policymakers, lawmakers, and members of the federal bureaucracy. The students will also participate in seminars with experts in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government, as well as with representatives of various interest groups and members of the news media.

In addition to seminars, FHS students will visit various parts of Washington and will engage in small- group discussions during which they will share their views with students from other parts of the country.

To allow students from a variety of economic backgrounds to take part in the program, the Close Up Foundation provides limited fellowship funds for low to moderate-income students. These fellowships are made possible through a congressional appropriation and contributions from the private sector.

Area groups and organizations have also donated to the FHS students to assist with their expenses and the students would like to thank the Fayette Optimist Club, the Fayette Rotary Club, The Golden Study Club, the Fayette Community Trust Fund, Commercial Trust Company, Merchant and Farmers Bank, and The Exchange Bank for their support.