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Joshua Gregory travels to Lansing to be Junior Senator for a Day

Sen. Lana Theis and “Be a Senator for a Day” summer reading contest winner Joshua Gregory

Manchester resident Joshua Gregory was welcomed to the State Capitol last Tuesday as one of State Sen. Lana Theis’ 2019 “Be a Senator for a Day” summer reading contest winners.

Joshua, a sixth-grader, was joined by his mother, Michelle Gregory. They spent most of Tuesday in Lansing and were able to attend Senate session and a committee hearing with Theis. Joshua elaborated, “We got a tour of the Capitol building, and the Senator’s office, and I listened to the bills 600 and 601 on education reform to change the merit standards for school … to make school more rigorous. I had lunch with Senator Theis and her staff in her office.”

“The ‘Be a Senator for a Day’ summer reading contest was a great way to help keep students engaged in learning during their summer break,” said Theis. “I congratulate Joshua on his well-deserved victory and applaud his dedication to reading and learning and his competitive spirit. It was great to have Joshua serve with me as my junior senator, and I encourage him to keep up the good work at school.”

Joshua described the experience as one of the highlights of his life so far. He thinks he might want to be a Senator when he gets older, but he does not know what the future will hold.

The contest was open to all students residing in the 22nd Senate District. Contest participants logged their reading accomplishments on special bookmarks from Theis’ office. Joshua won the contest by reading five books, which included “The Keepers” by Ted Sanders, “Miss Peregrine Home for Peculiar Children” by Ransom Riggs, “Dragon Watch” by Brandon Mull, and a selection from Rick Riordan.

Joshua concluded, “ I would like to say, thanks to Senator Theis for having this reading contest and for the amazing opportunity and I hope more kids will enter next year’s library reading contest and be able to experience the wonderful opportunity this is.”

Joshua Gregory and Sen. Lana Theis

by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and a founder of the Manchester Mirror.