BOLTON — Two Nashoba Regional High School seniors, Ava Wyman and Winston Zhao, represented the school at the annual Massachusetts Student Government Day held earlier this month at the State House in Boston. The event, which brought together more than 350 high school juniors and seniors from across the Commonwealth, offered a unique opportunity to experience government in action.
Student Government Day, organized by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in partnership with all three branches of state government, immerses students in civic education through direct interaction with lawmakers, judges, and other state officials. The day included a simulated joint committee hearing focused on the proposed “Act Promoting Safe Technology Use and Distraction-Free Education for Youth.”
Attendees were then split into two groups for the afternoon sessions. Some remained in the House and Senate Chambers to hear from members of the executive branch and engage in a simulated legislative debate. Others visited the John Adams Courthouse, where they met with law clerks and interns, toured the courthouse, and learned about the state’s judicial system.
Wyman and Zhao were nominated to represent Nashoba based on their involvement in student leadership—Wyman as the Student Representative to the Nashoba School Committee and Zhao for his participation in the School Council. Both students described the day as inspiring and eye-opening.
“It really helped with how I plan to approach leadership going forward,” Zhao said. “I realized how many diverse perspectives there are from being in a room with other students from across Massachusetts. That’s something that I’ll take with me.”
Governor Maura Healey emphasized the event’s broader impact: “This event provides students a unique opportunity to see firsthand how they can make a difference in their communities today, and maybe even as elected officials themselves in the future.”
Student Government Day has been a tradition since 1947, offering Massachusetts high school students—both from public and private institutions—a chance to participate in a mock legislative process, engage with peers, and build connections with real government officials.
