Events
Purpose
To provide our community’s youth the opportunity to learn the purpose and mechanics of county-level government, and be able to participate in a way to further their understanding of how local government works. Students who recognize and understand this will become more informed and involved citizens and voters.
Former President Richard Nixon wrote in his 1972 Proclamation: National Student Government Day, that student government organizations can “offer young people early and vital experience in exercising a voice in matters of common concern, reconciling diverse interests, and selecting leaders to express representative views. Equally important, active and responsible student governments can exert a constructive influence in shaping the on-going reform and self renewal of our educational communities.”
Student Government Day 2026
The Macomb County Board of Commissioners held its fourth annual Student Government Day on February 19, 2026. To attend, students are required to submit an essay. This year’s essay topic was “The effects of social media on mental health.” The writer of the winning essay, chosen by Commissioners, is awarded a $1,000 scholarship. The contest was open to all Macomb County students at public and private schools in grades 9-12.
Over 70 students submitted essays and 17 were in attendance for Student Government Day.
At the beginning of the day, Board Chair Joe Sabatini welcomed the students and explained that Student Government Day was created by the Board four years ago to develop a greater local government awareness among young adults. The event was designed to get them more involved as they approach voting age.
The welcome was followed by a presentation on the duties and responsibilities of a Commissioner with a Q&A session. Students then took part in small group discussions with Commissioners that covered topics such as the Martha T. Berry Medical Care Facility, transparency in government, the County budget process, and common Commissioner situations.
New this year, thanks to a special partnership with Michigan State University Extension’s 4-H program, students engaged in a session called “Issues on the Line.” This is part of the organization’s Beyond Ready initiative. More information can be found at: https://www.canr.msu.edu/4h/index.
The final activity of Student Government Day was a mock meeting. Students are paired up with Commissioners to play their staged Board meeting with actual agenda items.
$1,000 Scholarship
Congratulations to McKenna Howard from Warren Woods Tower High School. She was the 2026 essay winner and was awarded a $1,000 scholarship, sponsored by Advancing Macomb.
A special thank you to Advancing Macomb for sponsoring this scholarship and supporting our future leaders.
