WILBURTON, Oklahoma – Eastern Oklahoma State College students Caden Goodson of Atoka and Geralyn Haney of Stuart recently participated in The Oklahoma Academy Town Hall Conference at the River Spirit Casino in Tulsa.

According to The Oklahoma Academy’s website, the conference “provides Oklahomans with the chance to put into practice the civic cooperation model our work promotes. Invitations are sent out across the state and 150 attendees are selected from the respondents, who are chosen to reflect the variety of the sociodemographic spectrum in our state, in order to ensure that a range of interests are represented. For three days, the group researches an issue facing Oklahoma and discusses, listens, and comes to a consensus in creating solutions for a stronger state. Recommendations are developed and community action is taken to encourage legislative response.”

Goodson and Haney were two of 10 students selected from across Oklahoma to attend the conference.

“I have to say a huge thank you to President Wansick and Candace Raney, who selected me for this opportunity,” Goodson said. “When Candace asked if it was something I would be interested in, my first response was ‘Absolutely. Let me check my schedule.’”

Over the course of the three-day conference, Goodson and Haney were assigned to different panels charged with addressing different political issues. Each panel created a proposal with its thoughts on the specified issue. Proposals from each panel were then consolidated into one document to be distributed to state leaders.

“The Oklahoma Academy's Town Hall Conference provided me with the opportunity of a lifetime by acknowledging the impact the youth of today can have in the realm of politics and government and teaching the true power of civic discussion and engagement,” Haney said. “I would like to give a special thanks to President Wansick and her assistant, Candace Raney. Their encouragement and trust throughout this process meant a great deal to me and I am so grateful to have them as mentors. Because of their confidence, I was incredibly optimistic and determined during my time at the Town Hall, as I represented Eastern to the best of my ability.”

Both students spoke highly of their experiences and said they would recommend the conference to anyone interested in political science. Goodson highlighted his enjoyment of being able to contribute ideas to move Oklahoma forward. Haney said she appreciated the educational opportunity the conference afforded her.

“I appreciate this opportunity from an educational standpoint very much,” Goodson said. “The sheer high-level IQ of the conversations held in our panel was second-to-none and I was able to learn a lot about our constitution and how our government operates.”

More information about The Oklahoma Academy can be found at okacademy.org.