On October 28, 2024, Mercersburg Academy hosted its first Civics Conference. Planned by Civic Engagement Task Force leaders Nicole Brown and Allison Stephens and the Civic Engagement Student Advisory Board, the event hosted over 20 guest speakers for a day-long event designed to engage students in learning about a range of civic-related current issues from the people directly involved in the work.
The day began with a keynote session featuring an interview conducted by Head of School Quentin McDowell with Judge John Jones ’73, President of Dickinson College, and Jill Klein P’11, former Interim President of Pitzer College. As university administrators, they discussed issues like the limits of free speech on college campuses, particularly during times of campus unrest, such as the recent protests surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Students were captivated by the insightful discussion, which showcased the speakers’ experience and ability to foster thoughtful dialogue. “I liked Judge John Jones and Jill Klein because of their demonstration of being open-minded in their discussion,” Devin Rotz ‘25 noted. “It set a good example for students for the rest of the day.”
Following the keynote, students attended smaller discussion sessions covering various topics, from gun violence in America, led by a Virginia Tech school shooting survivor, to the role of religion in public life, led by a former attorney from the U.S. Department of Justice. Many presenters were alumni or friends of Mercersburg Academy.
The lively campus conversations afterward reflected the meaningful discussions that emerged from the sessions. “My first session, held by journalist Andy Abel of the Mercersburg Journal, taught me the importance of journalism, especially local newspapers and their impact in a democratic country,” Yiting Sun ’25 said. “As someone who doesn’t typically pick up a paper newspaper, I didn’t realize the impact it has on small communities.”
Some students commented that their sessions broadened their perspectives. “I gained a new understanding of rights through learning about the role of religion in public life from a well-accomplished lawyer. He argued how religion is a natural right, not just a constitutional one,” added Annie Mohr ‘26. “My sessions taught me how to resolve problems and conflict throughout my life in the future through just a discussion,” Jerry Sun ‘27 commented.
Students could freely ask questions and gain insights from the presenters. “I had a really interesting discussion about cybersecurity and asked a question about the impact of AI on it,” noted Yuma Matsuo ‘25. “I got some fascinating feedback from the presenter and had a great overall experience.”
The main goal of the Civics Conference was to encourage open dialogue and allow students to actively listen rather than simply disagree. Sofia Martin ’26 said, “I learned a lot from the presenters. My conversations throughout the day made me feel more prepared to take on discussions where I may have different views from the person I’m speaking with.”
Some students were selected to spend the entire day guiding guest presenters around campus and serving as discussion leaders within their sessions. For them, the conference provided the chance to engage with the speakers beyond the scheduled session times.
“I spent the day with a presenter talking about the harms of guns,” said Collin Jin ‘25. “It was really cool to see the diverse opinions brought together today and how people engaged with both sides of the same issue.”
“I thought it was really interesting and quite gratifying. I got to know the leader of my sessions personally and gained a lot of insight into her expertise,” stated Luntu Redebe ’25. “I learned how her work fits into the broader civic perspective. Even though I am not voting in this country, I saw how important it was.”
The final keynote session of the day delved into the dangers of disinformation online and how it can overshadow authentic information—an especially critical topic given the prevalence of social media, which in students’ lives overshadows reliable news sources.
“Especially as we prepare to go to college, I thought it was really important to learn about misinformation and how we can be deceived by social media,” Avery Liu ‘25 commented.
Pedro Pederneiras ’26 said, “I enjoyed the day a lot; it was good for my education in engaging civically and being a better citizen!”
As Election Day approaches, young people need to understand the importance of civic engagement. In a divided nation, conversation remains one of the most effective ways to bridge gaps. The 2024 Civics Conference brought together students from all perspectives and fostered meaningful dialogue.