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Students embark on Washington venture

JANESVILLE — Twenty-three students and six staff members from Parker High School's Washington Seminar program left for the nation's capital Saturday with an eye toward change and continuity.

"The students are looking forward to observing first-hand a new administration and the change that goes along with that, but they will also be exploring continuing federal programs and how they are meeting the needs of Americans," said Joe Van Rooy, Washington Seminar director. Van Rooy teachers the two AP Government classes whose students make up the Washington Seminar program.

While Van Rooy encourages students to study issues they feel strongly about, he requires a balanced approach to academic research, including the field research component in Washington.

Examples are seen in two Washington Seminar students preparing for a life of ministry.

Jonathan Olson is studying homeless policy.

"The career I'm looking to go into after high school is pastoral studies and evangelism, and homelessness is a major issue pastors deal with," Olson said. "I'm interested in learning more about the politics and everyday application of homeless policy to gain some background information and possible contacts that would be helpful in the future."

Brittany Schoeder is studying faith-based initiatives. Her research will focus on the Obama administration's Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnership Council.

"I plan a career as a youth minister, and I'm interested in issues of church and state," Schoeder said. "It will be interesting to see if this program has changed with the name change from the Bush to Obama administrations."

Obama added the neighborhood partnership component to Bush's faith-based program.

Some students studying similar issues or with similar interests, such as Olson and Schoeder, plan joint research in Washington.

Randi Elmer and Anne-Marie Giuca are studying veterans-related issues. They have joint interviews set up at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Health Administration.

Elmer, who is studying veterans suffering traumatic brain injuries, said she chose her topic based on family military service.

"Several members of my family have served in the military," Elmer said. "I have an uncle who served in Korea and cousins who have served. I'm concerned about the care wounded veterans are receiving, and this will give me an opportunity to get a first-hand look at that."

Giuca is focusing on transition issues for returning veterans. She said she is also concerned about veterans benefits.

"I've scheduled interviews and appointments with the Board of Veteran Appeals and will be interviewing the director at the Center for Women Veterans."

Giuca's preliminary research opened doors before she left for Washington.

"I set up an interview with the director of social work at Walter Reed, and he wanted to see a copy of the paper I wrote earlier this year on my topic," Giuca said. "When he saw that I was also studying benefits for veterans, he set up an interview for me with someone from the Veterans Administration."

The Washington Seminar students will meet as a group in Washington for briefings with Rep. Paul Ryan, Rep. Tammy Baldwin, Sen. Herb Kohl and Sen. Russ Feingold.

A briefing also is scheduled with former Washington Seminar student Steven Preston, who served in the Bush administration as administrator of the Small Business Administration and secretary of Housing and Urban Development. News reports have indicated Preston might be considering a run for Illinois governor.