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Senator Sally Turner brings
together students from across the 44th District for Youth Advisory
Council
[December 02, 2025]
Springfield, IL— State Senator
Sally Turner (R-Beason) welcomed more than 70 high school students
from across the 44th Senate District to Heartland Community College
on November 20 for her annual Youth Advisory Council, a hands-on
program designed to help young people learn about public policy,
state government, and leadership.
This year’s council included students from 15 high schools who spent
the day hearing from state and local leaders, participating in
policy discussions, and working together to develop legislative
proposals. The event featured speakers such as Heartland Community
College President Keith Cornille, Illinois State Police Captain John
Thompson, and Illinois Senate Republican Press Secretary Whitney
Barnes. Students later broke into groups to craft proposals for
potential new legislation before presenting their ideas to the full
council.
Senator Sally Turner said she hopes this experience helps students
understand that government is accessible to them and that their
voices matter. “Our state government is made up of regular people
who stepped up to serve, and these students should know they can do
the same,” said Senator Sally Turner. “They are the future leaders
of our state and nation, and opportunities like this help give them
the confidence and tools to make a difference.”
Throughout the day, students shared how the program shaped their
understanding of government and their own ability to influence
public policy.
Bridget Herr of Bloomington Central Catholic High School said the
real-world nature of the council stood out to her.
“In Model UN, everything is mock, but this feels real because these
ideas could actually move forward,” she said. “It’s empowering to
meet people doing this work every day and to know that as students,
we have a voice too.”
Meanwhile, Gabriel Rompot, a senior at Tri-City High School, said
participating helped him better understand the role of elected
officials.
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“Talking with
Senator Turner opened my eyes that these officials really do
work for you and want to hear what you have to say,” he said.
“Being here made me feel represented and reassured that our
voices matter in decisions affecting our communities.”
Jace Wamser, a student at Cerro Gordo
High School, said attending the council helped deepen his
understanding of how policies move from ideas to action.
“It gave me the opportunity to learn how policies get implemented
and how the legislative process works,” he said. “Finding common
ground and communicating is essential, and this experience made that
clear.”
Bailey Salzer, a freshman from
Dee-Mack High School, said the day helped her understand just how
much young people can contribute.
“I didn’t realize students had such a voice in state government,”
she said. “This experience helped me see how important it is to be
informed and advocate for change.”
After presenting their proposals, students voted on which idea they
would take up in a mock committee hearing during the council’s
spring session at the State Capitol.
[Marcus J. Durrett
Senior Communications Strategist
Communications and Public Affairs
Illinois Senate Republican Staff] |
