gme #70 04/12/10

OCEAN COUNTY HOSTS 63rd ANNUAL STUDENT GOVERNMENT DAY

TOMS RIVER – The 63rd Annual Student Government Day in Ocean County is scheduled for Thursday, April 29 to be held at the County Government Complex in downtown Toms River.

Student Government Day is the combined effort of the Ocean County American Legion and Auxiliary, the Board of Chosen Freeholders and local high schools. Its purpose is to promote an awareness of government and interest in citizenship.

“Student Government Day provides our high school students with an opportunity to learn about some of the functions of county government,” said Freeholder Director James F. Lacey. “We provide a host of services to the growing population of this county and this is one way students can find out first hand what we do”.

The event was started as a local extension of the National and New Jersey Girl and Boy’s State, which teaches students about those levels of government. More than 50 students from high schools throughout Ocean County are expected to participate in the half-day event by spending time in various departments including the Office of the County Clerk, Corrections Department, and the Courts. Students also will have an opportunity to vote on a standard Election Board voting machine.

The day is scheduled to begin at 8:45 a.m. in Room 119 in the Ocean County Administration Building, Hooper Avenue, here. The Ocean County Sheriff’s Department K-9 unit will provide a demonstration at 9:15 a.m. after which students will break into groups and visit each participating department.

---