On July 17, U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions (R-Dallas) announced that four St. Mark’s students recently completed the Pete Sessions Leadership and Growth Program. Tyler Mow-Unland ’09 and Jarrod Sparks  ’09 participated in the first session (June 8-14), and Will Jackson ’10 and Sean Tippen ’10 were part of session two (June 22-28).

Every summer, Congressman Sessions, who represents the 32nd Congressional District, directs this program in Washington, D.C., giving high school and college students the unique opportunity for a comprehensive experience of the nation’s capital. “My summer program is about engaging young minds for readiness to consider, challenge, and thoughtfully articulate the public policy debates facing our government as they develop their leadership skills for service in the future,” Sessions said. “Students have an opportunity to see Washington firsthand by observing House Committee hearings, attending program forums with government officials and Washington leaders, and touring different historical sites, memorials, and monuments around the city.”

Some of the program’s events included educational tours of the Pentagon, the White House, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Drug Enforcement Agency Museum. Students engaged in a wide range of activities, from visiting the Taiwanese Embassy, TECRO, to receiving a behind-the-scenes tour of the Ronald Reagan National Airport. They also interacted with other members of Congress and one of the Texas senators, the Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison.

“I value the opportunity to welcome students from St. Mark’s each year and to discover the perspectives and aspirations of young citizens in my district. I am always amazed by their brightness and discernment, and I was pleased to have Jarrod, Tyler, Will, and Sean participate in my program,” Sessions stated.

*Information provided by Congressman Sessions’ press release on July 17, 2008.