87th District State Rep. Julie Calley welcomed four summer reading program winning students and their families to the Capitol as junior representatives for a day and experience the life of a Michigan state representative. 

 

During their day in Lansing, the students took an oath of office, learned about the responsibilities of being a state representative, participated in a mock committee meeting, met the Lieutenant Governor, and toured the Capitol.

 

“There are two things that I hope they will remember,” Calley said. “First, literacy is an essential foundation for success. Second, diversity enriches any decision-making body. No matter which professions they choose, public service is an option. The junior representatives were extraordinary. Hosting them at the Capitol is one of my favorite days of the year.”

 

Fourth-grader Lucas Halanski, from Lakewood Elementary School, received special recognition for reading 1,704 pages, the most over the summer. The four students read 40 books, totaling more than 3,890 pages.

 

Ellen Craig, a second-grader at Alto Elementary School, read 1,163 pages; Anna Halanski, a second-grader at Lakewood Elementary School, read 794 pages; Lucas Halanski, a fourth-grader at Lakewood Elementary School, read 1,704 pages; Jacob Rogalski, a first-grader at Saranac Elementary School, read 230 pages. Mhairi Johnstone, fifth-grader from St. Rose of Lima Catholic School in Hastings, was unable to attend the day.

 

Calley said she was honored to welcome the remarkable group of students, their families, teachers, and librarians to the Capitol. Students entered the contest by reading books, filling out a bookmark with the books they read, and returning it to their library.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Joining Rep. Julie Calley at the Capitol are (from left) students Ellen Craig, Anna Halanski, Jacob Rogalski and Lucas Halanski.  Mhairi Johnstone  was unavailable for the photo.