Shadyside Social Studies teacher and Close-Up advisor Michael Coyne, from left, Belmont County public defender Cole Antolak, Belmont County Western Division Clerk of Court Jessica Uscio, Shadyside High School seniors Lexi Seszko, Ryan Weeks Lehney Schau, Brianna Harris, Friends of Divisional Courts president Zach Bigelow, and Belmont County Northern Division Judge Adam Myser celebrate friends of divisional courts donating $1,750 to Shadyside High School’s Close-Up program for its upcoming trip to Washington D.C. ( T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA)

SHADYSIDE – Belmont County Friends of Divisional Courts donated $1,750 to Shadyside High School’s Close-Up program for its upcoming trip to Washington D.C.

Social Studies teacher and Close-Up advisor Michael Coyne said that the donation will allow him to provide the seven senior students going to Washington D.C. $250 each to help alleviate some of the cost of the trip.

He added that this is his 11th year taking the Close-Up students to Washington D.C. and the group will be taking a flight in lieu of taking a bus or van.

Close-Up is a nonprofit civic education organization with the mission to inspire, engage and empower students to become active citizens.

“It’s very exciting for them, because a lot of them haven’t flown before, and even if it’s a short flight, I think the whole point of it is to get out and around in the city,” Coyne said.

He added that he believes the annual trips are important mostly because the students get to see how laws are made, experience being out in a big city and meet people from different walks of life.

Belmont County Northern Division Judge Adam Myser said that the donation comes from funds generated by the court’s annual Run For Justice 5K Run.

“We’re very excited for them to have some of the opportunities that they will have – many for the first time – and so excited to be able to develop the 5k for a good cause and then take those funds and support local students that are continuing to develop their education, ” Myser said. “The purpose of the 5k is to promote local legal and government education. We think that from a very high level, it’s important to promote the educational opportunities we have on a daily basis that are involved in the federal government, state government, and local government.

” A lot of people that serve as city council members serve as elected politicians. And it’s wonderful to expose our youth to all of the different opportunities, certainly at a federal level and a high level, but that trickles down to their experience when they become involved in their community.”

He added that the faster that the youth is able to get exposed to government education the better.

“We see them being impacted and appreciating the legal process that can be from one end of the spectrum of becoming a county commissioner one day to on a very small end of the spectrum of just simply serving as a juror. Either way, they can have an education and an appreciation for being part of the governmental process,” Myser said.

Friends of Divisional Courts president Zach Bigelow added that the funds will help the students receive hands-on experience at the capital, as well as learn things they might not otherwise learn.

“And if we can help with that, then that’s awesome,” Bigelow said. “When people support the race and donate to the race, we just pour it back into the community like this, so the more people that support us, the more we could give to schools. So that’s our goal.”