The class of 2026 Mayor’s Youth Council traveled to Washington, D.C., a trip that provided both good memories and new information.

Preparing for a trip like this takes both time and money. Senior Parker Gramling said the community helped make the trip possible.

“Getting ready for this trip was made a lot easier by the very generous community we live in,” Gramling said. “Traveling to D.C. was expensive, but with the help of local sponsorships and the city of Inman, students were paying very little to go.”

Packing also played an important role in preparing for the trip.

“The prep was mostly just triple checking everything I had and making sure I had the right stuff for the weather and lots of walking,” senior Elliot Miller said.

The council flew to Washington, and it was senior Louisa Sterritt’s first time flying.

“The biggest prep was preparing myself to go on a plane for the first time and getting over flying nerves,” Sterritt said.

Students said they enjoyed spending time together during the trip. Gramling said one of his favorite parts was exploring the city with friends.

“My favorite part was the time we had to spend with small groups,” Gramling said. “We were allowed to stay with small groups without a chaperone as long as we stayed together, so me and some friends took the electric bikes all around the city and truly had a great time.”

Miller said the Holocaust Museum made a strong impression on her.

“My favorite part was probably the Holocaust Museum,” Miller said. “It was really eye-opening because I think sometimes people gloss over the severity, when the reality is needed.”

Sterritt also enjoyed spending time with classmates during the trip.

“My favorite part of the trip was getting to spend time with my classmates before my senior year ends,” Sterritt said. “I also really enjoyed getting to tour the FBI and learn about historic crimes that happened in our country.”

Students said the trip also helped them better understand government and history.

“What I learned most while I was there was how all the different branches and parts of our government work together,” Gramling said. “We saw how the government operates.”

“I learned that history is such an important part of our culture because it guides our path by showing us possible outcomes,” Miller said.

Sterritt said she also enjoyed learning more about the city itself.

“I learned that D.C. is a quiet and very clean city,” Sterritt said. “If I had to choose a city to live in, I would pick D.C. I also learned what occurs during the changing of the guard and got to experience that.”

Catherine Gramling said the program hopes to continue the trip in the future.

“The hope is to take seniors to D.C. every year and the juniors to the state capitol,” Gramling said.