Wilton High School Senior students take a trip to Washington D.C.

On March 2, Wilton High School seniors took a trip to Washington, D.C. The group included 23 students and four mentors. Mr. Grunder was in charge of the trip, and the other mentors included Mr. Schulte, Mrs. Moran, and Mrs. Weekly. 

The group of students explored Washington, D.C., through a program called Close-Up. Six other schools from all over the United States were also on the tour. These states included Arkansas, Nebraska, Puerto Rico, Massachusetts, and Louisiana. Every school brought different backgrounds and perspectives, which allowed the students to learn about each other. 

The students visited many national landmarks, including the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, and memorials honoring veterans of both World Wars, the Vietnam War, and the Korean War. The students got to see all these powerful symbols of American history and learn more about the values of the United States.

The students also engaged in discussions with students from Wilton and students from other schools about the government. These discussions would be about the history of the monuments and current politics. This was a great opportunity for the seniors to share their opinions, as well as think deeper about the importance of our government and how it operates. 

The students got to meet Iowa senators and representatives, including Chuck Grassley, Joni Ernst, and Mariannette Miller-Meeks. The students got to meet and talk to each of them and learn about what these politicians do for Iowa. In addition, the students got to go and see the Holocaust Museum as well as other museums. These included many stories and artifacts from the history of the U.S. that were interesting to learn about.   

Overall, the students had a fun time and learned a lot. When asked about the trip, senior Trenton Valet said, “It was a great experience. I am glad I had the opportunity to go”