NK Students get Close Up Look at Government in Washington, D.C.

A group of North Kingstown High School students got a chance to meet members of the local delegation in Washington D.C. last week as part of a whirlwind tour of government in action.

The students, participants in the Close Up program, met with Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Reps. James Langevin and David Cicilline.

The student's teacher, Mark Comolli, said the students got to hear personal stories from movers and shakers in Washington as well as career advice and more.

Whitehouse spoke about his connections between the national capitol and Rhode Island and mentioned the granite at the Kennedy grave site hails from Rhode Island. Cicilline addressed his efforts to create jobs and improve the infrastructure of Rhode Island in addition to advancing gun control legislation. And Langevin described how he was injured in a shooting accident and his work in law enforcement.

Langevin also spoke about the ramifications of the Edward Snowden leaks and what they've done to national security issues.

The Close Up Foundation has been serving youth across the country for more than 40 years. The foundation served 215 high school students and teachers from Rhode Island in this school year and the North Kingstown students had a chance to interact with students from eight other states during their trip.

On Close Up, students have the opportunity to meet with policy makers and shapers, participate in public policy workshops, connect with other students from across the country, and use Washington’s iconic monuments and memorials as a living classroom to better understand their role as citizens in American democracy.