'Love and appreciation of country': South Valley high schoolers commemorate U.S. Constitution's signing

Sep. 17—The Rio Grande High School commons area — already painted in red and white — got an extra splash of blue on Friday.

To commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution, teachers of the South Valley high school threw a nonpartisan Constitution Day bash, during which students heard from local elected officials, registered to vote and participated in mock elections, all in the name of impressing the importance of civic duty on what could be the country's next generation of leaders.

"This group of kids that I have right now will vote in the next election," said U.S. history teacher Patricia Sumruld, who more or less ran Friday's show. "These kids have to get plugged in ... because the Senate is aging out, the House is aging out, the presidents are aging out."

"I want them to have a love and appreciation of country," she added.

Andrea Madera, 17, will be one of those students eligible to vote next year. When asked why she registered to vote on Friday, over a year ahead of the 2024 election, the senior answered, "So we can have people who would be good for us (and are) better for the country."

Several local elected officials — to include state Sens. Linda Lopez and Michael Padilla, both Albuquerque Democrats — turned out to teach kids about what it means to be involved in local politics.

The high schoolers welcomed them by lining up at the entrance of the school, and while songs like "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood played in the background, they waved small American flags and cheered on the officials. The lawmakers, in turn, waved back as they made their way to a stage set up in the commons.

Once in the commons area, as some students passed out cake decorated with an American flag, others asked the lawmakers prepared questions such as how to get involved in politics and the benefits of community college.

"Education opens the doors for so many opportunities," Lopez replied to a student question about the importance of education. "It gives you a chance to run for office, it gives a chance for you to open your own business, it's an opportunity for whatever your dreams may be."

"Without that piece of paper, whether it be a certificate, (an) associate's degree, bachelor's degree — you need that to move forward," she added.

Students also got a taste of what it feels like to participate in real elections, casting votes in a cardboard ballot box over which class-prepared presentation about historical sites or objects was the best.

"When I get older, obviously, I would (gather) more information about the people I would be voting for," junior Aiyanna Cordova said. "But, yes, it does give me an introduction to how it goes."

However small, the exercise was aimed at impressing upon students how loud their voices really can be, world history teacher Simona Muñiz said.

"I'm from the hood. And I think a lot of the times when you're from the hood, you forget that voting does count and it does matter," she said. "So I want to empower the kids to really use their voice."

She did, however, admit to swaying the election just a bit, encouraging students like Cordova to vote for her presentation about the 9/11 Memorial in New York City.

"I'm using my power as an American — and the most cool teacher," Muñiz joked.

In the end, Sumruld later confirmed, the 9/11 Memorial presentation was the one to win.