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Close Up in the News

Guahan Youth Summit sculpts Guam’s future elected leaders

October 18, 2022

How does a bill become law? That’s the lesson dozens of Guam’s public high schoolers get the chance to learn at this year’s Guahan Youth Summit. KUAM News caught up with participants at the four-day event happening this week at the Hilton Guam Resort in Tumon.

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Civics Matters AZ

Arizona students travel to DC for civics education camp. Here’s what’s on the curriculum

June 28, 2022

ARIZONA, USA — High school students from Arizona were in Washington D.C. last week on a four-day trip meant to spark their curiosity and promote American civics.

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Cardinals, State Farm Send Students Off To Washington

June 22, 2022

Michael Bidwill spent both his high school days and his law school days in Washington, D.C., and grew a great appreciation for the nation’s capital.

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Broward Youth Policy Summit Highlights

April 25, 2022

Students from Broward County Public Schools gather to work on and present policy proposals to their local Florida leaders.

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Byron-BergenByron-Bergen students visit Washington D.C.

April 5, 2022

BERGEN — Nine freshmen to seniors from Byron-Bergen Central School’s U.S. History and Government classes visited Washington D.C. on March 6. The trip was in partnership with the Close Up Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan civic education organization based in Washington D.C., and included students from Arizona, Colorado, North Dakota, Minnesota, Ohio, and Washington.

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Illinois U.S. Rep Darin LaHood: “Enjoyed a visit from students at Mt. Pulaski High School…”

March 18, 2022

Darin LaHood tweeted the following: “Enjoyed a visit from students at Mt. Pulaski High School as part of the Close Up Foundation program, which seeks to help students to engage with our government. Thanks to Brian Erlenbush and the Mt. Pulaski faculty for all they do. These students have bright futures ahead!”

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McIntosh students get Close-Up look at DC

February 1, 2022

“I hope to grow the program in years to come and bring even more students on this wonderful experience.” McIntosh social studies teacher Dallas Reagan is in his first year as the sponsor for the school’s Close-Up program.

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Community Foundation announces latest grant recipients

November 23, 2021

The St. Anthony Park Community Foundation announced it has awarded $35,650 to support the activities and initiatives of 14 local nonprofit organizations and community groups in 2021-2022. The Foundation’s grant awards span the areas of arts and culture, environment, physical activity and participation, education, community engagement, youth civic engagement. The grants generally target youth, new Americans, low income residents and seniors.

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Salvation Army pursues energy efficiency with help of grant

November 20, 2021

Cordova Electric Cooperative and CoBank have awarded $5,000 in grant funding both to the Salvation Army and to the Close Up Foundation. The grants were awarded at the CEC board’s Oct. 10 meeting, with checks changing hands during a Thursday, Nov. 18 ceremony at CEC’s offices.

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DOI

Interior supports insular area students through Close-Up and Junior State Foundation

September 6, 2021

WASHINGTON (U.S. Interior Department) — The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs has provided $1,499,100 in fiscal year 2021 Technical Assistance Program grant funding to two civic engagement and education programs for insular areas students.

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Political Discussions Focused on Consensus More Comfortable, Less Divisive for Students

July 27, 2021

A new study found more U.S. high school students felt respected in a political discussion designed as a deliberation – where the goal was to reach consensus – than in a group debate, and their views also moved closer toward agreement. Students engaged in group debate were generally more polarized after the activity.

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In praise of Rob Bishop and Gary Herbert

July 19, 2021

Most people never get the opportunity to know their elected officials on a personal level. That’s a shame because most public officials are wonderful, interesting individuals and we tend to be more sympathetic and nicer toward people we know personally, even if we disagree with them.

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Readout of White House Meeting with Youth Voting Groups

July 7, 2021

Yesterday, Domestic Policy Advisor Susan Rice and White House Public Engagement Director and Senior Advisor Cedric Richmond marked the 50th Anniversary of the ratification of the 26th Amendment, which effectively lowered the national voting age to 18, by meeting with the leadership of non-partisan groups who are focused on youth voting access and civic participation.

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Bank of America announces 2021 Bakersfield Student Leaders

June 22, 2021

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Bank of America announced the 2021 Bakersfield Student Leaders on Tuesday, providing them with a paid summer internship.

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Senator John Barrasso visits students in Platte Co.

April 14, 2021

WHEATLAND – Senior U.S. Sen. From Wyoming, John Barrasso visited students at Wheatland High School April 7. Students from Close Up who usually travel to Washington to learn more about how government works and how it applies to their lives and how it applies to where they live.

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Chris Evans’ A Starting Point Partners With Newsweek For One-Month Cross-Platform Series on Generation Z

April 1, 2021

A Starting Point, the civic media organization created by Chris Evans, actor/filmmaker Mark Kassen and entrepreneur Joe Kiani, has teamed with Newsweek for the month of April to create a cross-platform series exploring Gen Z’s impact on American politics.

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VECA students (virtually) chat with Captain America

March 26, 2021

Three students from Valdosta Early College Academy were given the opportunity to talk to Captain America about, well, America.

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Good Morning Texas

Empowering Female Voices on Good Morning Texas

March 15, 2021

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SXSW EDU: Dr. Jill Biden tells teachers ‘education is a gift’ on 2nd day of conference

March 10, 2021

Dr. Jill Biden opened up about the power of teaching during a passionate address for SXSW EDU Wednesday morning.

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Activist Francesca Menes speaking truth to power

February 18, 2021

Francesca Menes was hand-picked by destiny to lead a movement started by Ella Baker and echoed by Fannie Lou Hamer.

When you embrace this work, activism seeps into your soul.

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SRL Partners With Close Up For Video Workshop

November 10, 2020

PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs (SRL) launched a new partnership with Close Up, a non-profit civic education organization that inspires students to develop the knowledge and skills they need to become informed, active, and engaged citizens.

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Aquidneck Island studentsAquidneck Island students get political with mock elections, discussions about issues

November 2, 2020

From peer discussions to mock elections, high school students on Aquidneck Island are getting political.

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kassen and evansMark Kassen And Chris Evans Want To Make Every Important Issue A Starting Point

October 30, 2020

Last week, as part of MTV’s Vote For Your Life Stream digital event, Mark Kassen and his pal Chris Evans talked to young, first-time voters about what was driving them to the polls this year. The issues ranged from climate justice to health care and more — nuanced topics with discernibly different views on both sides of the American political spectrum.

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Chris Evans wants to know: What’s inspiring your to vote this year?

October 24, 2020

The actors joined a video chat with students from the civic engagement program A Starting Point (ASP), run through the democracy-engaging organization Close Up, to ask an important question to young people who are getting the vote out for the very first time in 2020: “What’s the issue that inspired you guys to vote this year?”

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Joan CartmillLocal teacher wins state award for instilling national pride in students

September 26, 2020

The VFW awards teachers at the local, state and national levels yearly, honoring those teachers who are working to instill a sense of national pride in students. This year, Joan Cartmill, an eighth grade social studies instructor at St. George Academy, received the Utah Smart/Maher Nation VFW Citizenship Education Teacher Award for the middle school level after winning at the local VFW Post, Region 5 and state levels.

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Gray DC“Captain America” star gets political: Why lawmakers are teaming up for Chris Evans’ new project

August 20, 2020

Washington Bureau Chief Jacqueline Policastro talked to Chris Evans about his new website aimed at helping Americans get more informed by working with local lawmakers.

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Glendale teen in Bank of America intern program

August 13, 2020

“Having these virtual meetings are amazing, but that physical connection and bond while listening to these people’s stories or hearing their life’s work makes me miss the chance of being able to participate in person,” Paz said.

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Melbourne student recognized for community deeds

July 23, 2020

Nathan Foo, a rising senior, has dedicated his efforts to bridge the gap between autistic children and their community by using education, sports and the arts to enrich their lives with his “Voice of Autism” club.

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World News Now

Chris Evans launches ASP website with official education partner – Close Up Foundation

July 2020

Chris Evans wants you to be in engaged in politics.  The actor finally launched his bi-partisan political website called A Starting Point (ASP).  ASP is an all-video-based platform to help voters better understand the issues of the day in less than two minutes and includes interviews and opinions from 150 members of congress and governors representing nearly all 50 states.

Watch Full Video Here >

 

 

 


 

Hailey Worman

Newman Catholic student’s constitutional knowledge earns her trip to D.C.

February 2020

A Newman Catholic High School student won an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., after participating in the Know Your Constitution project.

The Know Your Constitution project, sponsored by the Iowa State Bar Association, is a program for high school students in which they had to familiarize themselves with the Constitution and related issues by taking a multiple choice quiz and writing a short essay on a scenario.

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Largest ever group of Simon Youth Academies participate in Close Up Washington, DC

January 2020

In 2020, SYF expanded its partnership with Close Up Washington, DC, to continue to provide Simon Youth Academy students with a unique civic engagement trip designed to inform, inspire and empower young people to exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democracy. Simon Youth Academies have participated in Close Up since 2015, providing 184 students and 46 teachers this unique opportunity.

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Harvard Business Review Report on Civics

December 2019

The U.S. Chamber Foundation commissioned a Harvard Business Review white paper, The Business Case for Civics Education, that examines the state of civics and why improving it is so important to the nation’s well-being. The report shows that while more education is one part of the issue, so is increasing the level of respect that people have for disparate views, compromise, and each other.

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bryan henry

Former Kingwood High teacher wins named Teacher of the Year

December 10, 2019

By Savannah Mehrtens, mysanantonio.com

A Kingwood High School alum and teacher was awarded for excellence in his teaching career by the Texas Council for the Social Studies.

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Student Fundraiser

DeSmet eighth graders get creative with fundraising for school trip

November 16, 2019

By Cameron Evans, Missoulian

A group of eighth graders from DeSmet School in Missoula are hosting yard sales, going door to door to sell doughnuts and talking with local businesses to raise money for a trip to Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.

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Closing the Opportunity Gap in Rural Alaska

October 5, 2019

By NASSP

Chief Ivan Blunka School is a preK­–12 school located in the Alaska bush community of New Stuyahok. In New Stuyahok, hunting, fishing, and subsisting off the land aren’t hobbies but a necessity for survival due to the lack of traditional economic opportunities. Our community is only accessible by air or boat, and even then only when the weather cooperates. Everything we need to run our school, from toilet paper to textbooks, is flown in via single-engine aircraft.

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Grass Range students prepare for adventure out east

October 9, 2019

By Charlie Denison

In June, Grass Range students Cassidy Dutton, Nola Goss, Jasmine Brinley, Morgan Corean, Garrett Eickhoff, Hanna Matovich, Colleen Armstrong and Jacob Jessen are headed to Washington, D.C., and New York City with history teacher George Maruska. This will be Maruska’s fifth trip as part of the Close Up civic education program. The students are thrilled for the opportunity.

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Undergraduate Students Explore Careers in Foreign Affairs

October 9, 2019

By Sarah Wood

For the second year in a row, a select group of undergraduate students got a first-hand chance to learn about international diplomacy through a program sponsored by the U.S. State Department….

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Youth Summit allows students to raise their voices on public policy

October 4, 2019

By Adriana Cotero

The island youth is stepping up and speaking out on local public policies they believe need to be acted on. “I genuinely wanted to learn about the issues that are currently going on in our island and also how I can collaborate with other people to gain an understanding of how I can make a change.” John F. Kennedy High School junior Marina Babauta said…

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Bank of America recognizes local student leader

September 26, 2019

By Brittany Mulligan, Associate Managing Editor

Senior year can be a trying time for students between college applications, finishing up volunteer hours and balancing a social life. For Haleigh Woloszak, a senior at Edgewood Jr/Sr High School, volunteering is more than something to make a resume stand out – it’s something she is passionate about…

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My Week at the ACLU Summer Advocacy Institute

September 4, 2019

By Aaron Lurin, Student Reporter

During the last week in July, I joined about 900 other high school students at the fourth annual ACLU Summer Advocacy Institute, a week-long “learning experience for the next generation of social justice advocates.”…

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UCISD Migrant Leadership Conference

Migrant students travel to Washington, D.C.

July 5, 2019

By Uvalde Leader-News

In early June, four students from Uvalde High School traveled to Washington D.C., to participate in a week-long leadership academy designed for migrant students, hosted by the Close Up Foundation.

A migrant student is a student whose family relocates because of agriculture-related industries or other seasonal work, according to the Texas Education Agency…

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EG parents save eighth-grade trip to Washington, D.C.

February 2, 2019

By Allie Lewis

Since the school committee voted down the eighth-grade, school-sponsored trip to Washington, D.C. more than a month ago, parents have been hard at work to ensure this year’s class won’t be missing out. Parents will replace teachers as chaperones and calls will have to be made to excuse absences from school, but the trip will take place as originally scheduled. While the decision has inconvenienced and concerned many parents, Sherri Tracey never had any doubts that the longstanding program wouldn’t continue…

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Eleanor Vogelsang from the Close Up Foundation Speaks at the South Pasadena Rotary Club

March 19, 2018

By SouthPasadenan.com

PHOTO: Courtesy of Dan Watson | SouthPasadenan.com | Eleanor Vogelsang from the Close Up Foundation was the program speaker at the South Pasadena Rotary Club on Tuesday, March 13. Close Up is a non-profit civic education organization with a mission to inspire and empower young people to be more engaged in the political process…

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ThisGEN Youth Summit Kicks Off, Inspires Youth Activism to End Gender-based Violence

March 6, 2017

MySocial GoodNews article by Api Podder

Press Release – Washington, D.C. – Raliance, in partnership with The Close Up Foundation and It’s On Us, kicks off its ThisGEN Youth Summit in Washington, D.C. today, convening high school students from around the country to build collective power and voice in the fight to end gender-based violence. Eighty high school sophomores and juniors from 25 states and Washington, D.C. will engage in leadership and learning opportunities to explore efforts to stop gender-based violence….

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Close Up alumni from Belen Jesuit participate in a congressional debate

October 21, 2016

Miami Arch article by Priscilla A. Greear

Photographer: David Santiago | POOL. US Representative Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla), left, shakes hands with his opponent, Democrat challenger Jose Garcia, before the start of the debate at their alma mater, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami. In between the presidential debates, Belen Jesuit Prep hosted a Congressional one, pitting Rep. Carlos Curbelo versus challenger Joe Garcia, and moderated by ABC journalist Tom Llamas. But for this sacred rite of truth-seeking, the three men’s top credential was having graduated from Belen — and passing the American government class taught by Patrick Collins…

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SYF Students are Ready for Their Close Up!

October 04, 2016

Detroit Lakes Online article by Vicki Gerdes

Simon Youth Foundation is committed to supporting not only high school graduates, but contributing members of society who will positively impact their communities for years to come. By exposing our students to educational and professional development opportunities both in and outside the classroom, we aim to broaden their horizons and impact their worldview. In 2015, we launched the Simon Youth Academies- Civic Leadership Program (CLP) to present opportunities for students to understand their role in society, and better learn how to effect change…

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Best Buddies Indiana Goes To Washington, D.C.!

October 2016

By Best Buddies

With funding and support from the Indiana Governors Council for People with Disabilities, Best Buddies Indiana was able to partner with the Close Up Foundation to send six Buddy pairs to Washington D.C. for five night full-immersion experience into American history and politics. Best Buddies pairs worked together to support each other throughout the experience and put Best Buddies mission of social inclusion into action in our nations capital. While in DC students toured all the major memorials, went to see the Washington Nationals play live, and participated in discussion about relevant social and political issues…

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ONEOK donates to four Close Up school groups

October 05, 2016

Detroit Lakes Online article by Vicki Gerdes

Submitted photo Rock and blues musician Corey Medina is coming to Waubun High School on Tuesday, Oct. 20 for a benefit concert to help students raise money for a May 2017 field trip to Washington, D.C. He will also be speaking at the school on Monday, Oct. 19 as part of the school’s Unity Day anti-bullying activities. Once every two years, students at Waubun High School get to experience American democracy in action, first hand, with a five-day trip to Washington, D.C., through the Close Up Foundation. While in our nation’s capitol, the students who choose to sign up for the program visit with Minnesota lawmakers on Capitol Hill, tour all the national presidential and war memorials, as well as the Smithsonian, the Pentagon, and the National Museum of American History, just to name a few…

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NACDD and CloseUp Foundation DC

October 20, 2015

By National Association of Councils on Development Disabilities

The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Close Up Washington DC. The two organizations have agreed in principle to form a partnership focused on continuing NACDD’s effort to build civic capacity among its network of Councils while furthering Close Up’s outreach to include students with disabilities in their trainings…

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Tribute to Steve Janger during C-SPAN’s Washington Journal

October 15, 2015

C-SPAN user-created clip by Jeremyart

Tribute to Steve Janger during C-SPAN’s Washington Journal

 

 

 

 

 


 

Warren Early College students get ‘Close Up’ look at how federal government works

August 31, 2015

The Warren Record article

While on summer break, two Warren Early College High School students, Kiah Durham and Kallisto Hill, traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Close Up Washington program. The Close Up Foundation is a nonprofit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization that provides civic education programs and classroom resources that educate and inspire young people to become informed and engaged citizens…

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Florida students participate in the Rally for Tally

June 17, 2015

Sun-Sentinel article by Aurelio Moreno

Cypress Bay students at UCF. (Courtesy)En un solo viaje maravilloso e inolvidable, el argentino Valentín Dall’Acqua, estudiante de noveno grado de la secundaria Cypress Bay de Weston, tuvo la oportunidad única de presentar diferentes propuestas legislativas en Tallahassee, visitar la universidad en la que espera estudiar leyes, Florida State Univerty (FSU), compartir con decenas de compañeros de su escuela y hacer nuevas amistades de otras culturas y lenguas…

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Migrant students participate in Close Up

February 18, 2015

Santa Maria Sun article by Jamie Guista

From Feb. 7 through 13, more than a dozen Santa Maria Joint Union High School District students traveled to Washington, D.C., and toured the White House, Capitol Hill, the Washington Monument and other historical sites…

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A dispatch from Close Up’s election night watch party

November 05, 2014

The American Prospect article by Katherine Downs

The Hamilton Live, a Washington, D.C., nightclub, is unrecognizable on election night. One hundred twenty-two high school students from 11 states, not to mention the 30 from Mexico, fill the bottom floor of the Hamilton usually packed for late night R&B and blues…

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close up DCStudents chat with Representative Steny Hoyer, D-MD

October 03, 2014

BayNet.com article by Charles County Public Schools

Several Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students were part of an inaugural event on Tuesday, Sept. 30, that mixed video conferencing technology and chat rooms with politics and history. The event was a Google Hangout with Congressman Steny Hoyer, who represents Charles County as part of Maryland’s Fifth Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives…

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Nay Ah Shing students participate in Close Up

May 10, 2014

Mille Lacs Messenger article

Students from Nay Ah Shing High School met Senator Al Franken in Washington D.C. Pictured: Justin Leecy, Amanda Nickaboine (Ojibwe Language teacher), Sage Boyd-Davidson, Tehya Wade, Franken, Mia Anoka, Eddie Nadeau and Shawntel Jellum. Nay Ah Shing High School was very proud to send six students to Washington D.C. to participate in the Close Up Foundation program…

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close up DCPatton students participate in Close Up

April 24, 2014

Fort Leavenworth Lamp article

Fifteen eighth- and ninth-graders from Patton Junior High School traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the Close Up Foundation’s middle school and high school programs, which promote conscientious civic participation…

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A Waseca student reflects on Close Up

April 14, 2014

Waseca County News article by Kayla Schlueter

On the morning of March 28, I, along with 10 other students and one advisor, departed from Minneapolis International Airport for Washington, D.C. We were headed there to participate in a program put on by the Close Up foundation…

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North Kingstown students participate in Close Up

April 02, 2014

North Kingstown Patch article by Mark Schieldrop

On the morning of March 28, I, along with 10 other students and one advisor,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…

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Students invigorated by close-up view of Congress

March 03, 2013

The Hill article by Zach DeRitis

It’s springtime in the nation’s capital, and with that comes the influx of middle-school students from around the country. As the weather starts to warm up, they are traversing the city landscape in small convoys of three, four, maybe five charter buses, visiting museums, memorials and monuments…

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Close Up and the Allstate Foundation examine safe driving policy issues

May 08, 2012

WJLA article

Summer is almost here and while that means no school for students, it also marks the beginning of “the deadliest time of year on the roads.” According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 400 young people die in traffic crashes during the summer…

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Close Up Foundation attracts students to D.C.

April 07, 2009

By The Washington Times

Heavy rain in recent days could not keep more than 100 students gathered from across the United States from visiting the memorials that enhance the nation’s capital. The students didn’t mind getting drenched as they toured from the World War II Memorial to the Lincoln Memorial. The guided tour was but one of the many activities of a weeklong trip organized by the Close Up Foundation…

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Students get ‘Close Up’ view of Washington, D.C.

April 12, 2006

By The Landmark

Washington, D.C., became a classroom, and some of its experts served as educators as 14 Wachusett Regional High School students and teacher Jack Farley participated in the Close Up Foundation government studies program. During the week in Washington, the students attended seminars on Capitol Hill and met government officials, political experts, lobbyists and a representative of the Washington press corps to learn more about the federal process. Students also visited with members of Congress and watched the passage of key bills…

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