San Juan School District holds first annual Civics Day event on September 17, Constitution Day

On September 17, the San Juan School District held its first annual Civics Day at the Utah State University Blanding Campus.
In 2022, the Utah State Legislature passed HB 273 which created a pilot program “to support innovative approaches to civics education” in state public schools and foster civic engagement among our students.
The annual Civics Day is a direct response to that initiative and to the outreach of community members who volunteered to help bring civics education programs into the schools.
Organized by the Social Studies team, led by Jesse Grover and Lynda Boyle, Civics Day brought over 650 high school students to USU Blanding, where they were able to engage with community leaders, political candidates and parties, government officials, and local government agencies.
At the beginning of the event, students received a passport outlining all of the places they could go to learn.
Over the course of five hours, the students visited with more than 25 booths created and run by many people in local government, including:
• The local county commission
• Three city mayors
• The SJSD School Board
• Information on Navajo Government
• Four Local Political Parties (Constitution Party, Democratic Party, Independent Party, and Republican Party)
• A former federal senate staffer
• Local media
• Law enforcement
• Fire department
• And many others.
These booths required students to participate in thoughtful discussions and to ask questions about their community government in order to earn signatures on their passports. The passports were then turned in for a prize drawing at the end.
Along with the booths, the students were able to participate in three different panel discussions with local leaders where they could engage more deeply by asking questions and engaging in a 45-50 minute conversation about what civics engagement is and why it’s important.
These panels encouraged students to think critically about their place in the community, ask difficult questions of their leaders, and examine ways that they can get involved even before they are old enough to vote.
The event culminated with a keynote address from State Senator David Hinkins who represents San Juan and the surrounding counties.
Senator Hinkins talked about the Constitution as an inspired document that clearly lays out the proper role of government and encouraged students to be involved.
He talked about his love for our county and the people in it and shared some of the projects he has championed that benefit the people of San Juan County. As a district, we are grateful that he took time out of his busy schedule to spend the day with our students.
There will be a Second Annual Civics Day on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 to celebrate Constitution Day and to continue to help students get involved in the community, be informed and active citizens, and understand the role that civil servants and government play in their lives.