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It’s now 11:15 a.m., and while HUSC prepares to begin its regular meeting, the usual din of casual conversation hangs in the air. But this week there are a few new faces in the assembly: Student-council members from Hancock, Hamline’s collaborative magnet elementary school, have come to campus to see how the Hamline student congress runs.

“The collaboration between Hancock and Hamline is really great,” says Lucas, a sixth-grader at Hancock.
“It gives me a taste of what college is like.”

The students were brought to the meeting to help encourage them to become active in school organizations and leadership positions. Their adviser, Glynis Grostephan, wants them to know that student council isn’t about being popular - it’s about leading the way.

“When I was in school, it seemed like the most popular people always got on the council, but nothing ever got done,” said Grostephan. “It was great for the kids to see this; many want to continue in student leadership. Seeing college students taking charge helps encourage young leaders to stay involved through high school and beyond.”

Although over 20 minutes passed before the students had an opportunity to speak before congress - each precious minute stealing time from the pizza party they had been promised following the meeting - all seemed to enjoy themselves. Many sat silently, soaking up the dialogue, though they admittedly didn’t understand much of the parliamentary procedure or the speeches spouted by representatives.

“I learned a lot!” said Carol, Hancock’s student-council president. “You talk to each other so much, and you’re so open!”

When she finally got an opportunity to stand before the group, Carol impressed the assembly with her short-but-sweet speech highlighting her group’s current fund-raising drive.

"We made a goal to raise $500 for UNICEF, and as of today, we’ve earned $735,” said Carol. “Hancock and Hamline have a lot of the same goals. We both help the community and make it better.”
Indeed, the two do hold many of the same goals, and their interaction can be seen on a daily basis.
Hancock students begin their relationship with Hamline students as early as the first grade, when some students begin the Rainbow Readers program.

As part of this program, Hamline students on work study go to the classrooms each day and read with the elementary schoolers. This bond gives the Hancock students positive adult role models and encourages them to pursue higher education from a young age.

Hamline’s newly resurrected Environmental Studies Club is also taking action to strengthen the bond between the two schools, as they will soon start a program to raise environmental awareness at the magnet school.

Current plans include a garden that the students can help care for and possibly weekly environmental seminars. These programs will go hand-in-hand with the annual collaborative Earth Day festival that Grostephan started eight years ago.

The schools both realize the importance of providing strong role models for young students in multiple areas, from reading to the environment, from math to student leadership.

Hancock students who took part in the Nov. 9 HUSC meeting left with a new take on how they can help lead their peers in years to come, and they did so with the help of Hamline students - even if they did have to wait a full hour and 15 minutes before they got to have any of that pizza.