Schools

Runyan Visits WAMS Students

The students presented the congressman with a $3,370 check of the money they've raised for the Wounded Warrior Project this year.

It’s not every day you get to have a U.S. congressman and a former professional football player drop in for a visit at your school.

So it was pretty cool for the students at (WAMS) that they got both rolled into one.

Congressman Jon Runyan visited the district last week to speak to middle school students about his experience as a politician and former Eagle, as well as their fundraising efforts this year for the Wounded Warrior Project, which benefits disabled veterans.

Civics teacher Katelynn Dickstein said the visit from Runyan—who is on the House Committee for Veterans Affairs and the chairman of the subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs—really drove home for the students “the seriousness and severity of the issue.”

“He encouraged them to think about the Wounded Warrior Project even after we’re done fundraising,” Dickstein said. “They seemed to really enjoy him because (he) talked to them as if they were having a 'conversation' with their own representative during the question and answer portion of the assembly."

Reflecting on Runyan’s visit, student Susan Orth wrote, “Congressman Runyan’s life experience inspires me to become more involved in my community because I know now that really anything is possible if you believe and work hard. It assures me that anything I do to help out makes a difference, and that makes me want to help out that much more … Raising awareness and fundraising for wounded veterans is much more important to me now.”

Dilan Trivedi said the congressman’s visit was interesting because he was able to get “a firsthand experience of how a congressman actually lives, as opposed to just reading his biography or learning out of a textbook.”

Another student, Jon Palko, wrote he was inspired by Runyan’s visit because the congressman “has worked hard on so many committees that consider our community and the benefits of our society. After hearing how he has helped the wounded war veterans in their fight against mental illnesses and physical changes, I really wanted to go out and do something ‘good.’”

The school presented Runyan with a check for $3,370 for the Wounded Warrior Project.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here