Ariana Bobiak of Seekonk Completes RI Civic Leadership Program

Bay View Senior helps Bring the Power of Voting to Life for Lower School Students

Riverside, Rhode Island – St. Mary Academy – Bay View senior Ariana Bobiak of Seekonk, MA recently completed the Rhode Island Civic Leadership Program, an immersive, year-long nonpartisan program designed to connect high school students to their government and build skills and habits that foster lifelong civic engagement.

Students completed the program and were honored with Certificates of Civic Excellence at a celebration at the State House in May. The girls worked together to create a hands-on civics curriculum to introduce the importance of voting to students in grades 3 through 5. They presented their curriculum to students at Bay View’s Lower School and hosted a full mock trial election which included candidate speeches, a working voting machine and “I Voted” stickers.

Ariana served as a role model and mentor for the younger students and guided each student through the civic processes. At the end of the program, she led a follow-up discussion to answer questions and encourage her younger peers to continue to learn both the responsibility and excitement that comes with having a voice.

“It was a unique opportunity for Bay View because of the range of students we have here. Having students in Grade 12 present to our Lower School created a space for important conversations,” said Bay View’s President & Head of School, Amy Gravell ‘93. “The mock election became more than a civics lesson: it sparked genuine and curious dialogue between students at different stages of their education.”

The Rhode Island Civic Leadership Program was created by Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore to connect high schoolers to their government and encourage a lifelong interest in civic engagement.