Jamestown Elementary Students Recognized as First 'Commonwealth Ambassadors'

This past Tuesday, some students at Jamestown Elementary were presented the first ever Commonwealth Ambassadors commissions by Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson.

He said that with students around the country becoming more disengaged in their communities, Beckie Godby's class of students at Jamestown Elementary demonstrated that there are some students who care about what their government says and does.

Grayson referred to legislation that the students recommended to the state legislature as part of their coursework in the Project Citizen curriculum.

He said they got the support of Rep. Jeff Hoover to sponsor the bill they researched on their own and saw the legislation to ban children from riding in the back of pickup trucks pass in the House of Representatives.

While the legislation did not receive final passage, their efforts caught the eye of Secretary.

"What these students achieved is tremendous," Grayson said. "They found an issue, studied it, and found what they believed to be an appropriate solution."

Grayson recently signed an executive order creating the Commonwealth Ambassadors in order to recognize youth who demonstrate exceptional character and citizenship through their contributions to the community, state, or nation. The students at Jamestown are the first recipients of the award.

He told the students that the Kentucky Colonel commission is only authorized for people over 18, and so he felt that something was needed to honor younger people's contributions to the state.

Grayson also presented a Kentucky Colonel commission to Ms. Godby for her outstanding efforts and achievements in education.

He added that if someone knows of other students who deserve to be commissioned a Commonwealth Ambassador, Grayson encouraged them to contact his office by visiting the Office of the Secretary of State website at www.sos.ky.gov