As Head of School John Lewis noted in his opening remarks, “It is so easy during a presidential election year to get caught up in focusing only on one single person in one single role. And granted, the presidency is an important and powerful role–the President is the Commander in Chief of the US Military, our chief diplomat with other countries, plays a big role in national lawmaking, and is a visible spokesperson and ideally, and ideally, a role model for the country. We’ll be talking about this elected office today, but only as one part of the program. But the rest of the program makes this point: Civic life is so much more than elected officials, it’s made up of religious leaders, volunteers, sports coaches, neighbors, club leaders, and friends. And a main idea that I hope you take away from today, is that healthy community life begins with each and every one of you, and the choices we each make to build up our community–including the Gunston community.” 

By offering interactive modules and career exploration sessions, the event broadens students’ perspectives on civic engagement, showing them the many ways they can contribute to society—whether through law, politics, nonprofit work, or public service. It encourages them to think critically about current issues, understand diverse viewpoints, and envision themselves as future leaders and change makers.

The day began with an engaging keynote address from Dr. Pat Nugent, who set the tone for a day centered on civic responsibility and learning. Dr. Nugent is the Director of Civic Engagement for the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience at Washington College. 

Students then participated in three learning modules, choosing from a wide range of topics including a deep dive into the Bill of Rights, discussions on civil rights and social justice, the politics of space exploration, reproductive rights and state legislations, the role of satire in politics, the role of music in political movements, how the electoral college works, and the media's impact on American politics. International perspectives were also highlighted with a session on democratic elections in countries like Canada, Spain, and Germany, led by international students. In addition to these, students engaged in mock elections, explored the evolution of women in politics and examined the fine line between free speech and hate speech.

For the career exploration component, students selected from various tracks that introduced them to civic-related professions. These included civil rights law, environmental law, nonprofit management, public health research, and military careers like flying for the Air Force and working in naval intelligence. Students also had the opportunity to meet professionals like legislative aides, civil rights lawyers, and nonprofit directors.

Throughout the day, students enjoyed opportunities to reflect on the many ways they can contribute to civic life, whether through public service, law, politics, or community engagement. Additionally, the Gunston Parent Association (GPA) provided snacks from around the country that included Hubig's Pies from Louisiana, peach cobbler from Georgia, black & white cookies from New York, smoked salmon from Alaska, cheese curds from Wisconsin, Maple sugar Candy from Vermont, and of course, mini crab cakes from Maryland!  

“We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers who generously gave their time and expertise to make Civic Learning Day a success,” said Gunston’s Director for Community & Belonging, Dr. Ryan Asprion. “Your insightful presentations and willingness to engage with our students helped bring the concepts of civic responsibility, leadership, and community service to life.Thank you for empowering the next generation of civic-minded leaders with your knowledge and passion!”

Student-led sessions included presentations by Ben Watkins ’26, Margaret Randolph ’25, Kate Andrews ’26, Marley Farmer ’27, Ezra Lillie ’25, Sydney Dare ’25, Elena Fraser ’25, Caroline Mirando ’25, Alli Lutz ’25, Evelyn Russ ’25, Susannah Clark ’26, Riley Faff  ‘26, Lily May ’26, Lia Schut ’26, Alex Elfenbein ’25, Elizabeth Pupke ’25 and Katherine Sadler ’25.

A special thank you to our speakers:

• Dr. Jonathan Badger, P’26 (Evolution of American Politics)
• Mr. Michael Borland, P’22’27 (Office of Naval Intelligence Senior Advisor for Collection and Partnerships)
• Lieutenant Colonel Matt Coffey (Pilot at the Pentagon’s Air Force Knowledge Operations Office)
• Mayor Megan Cook, P’22’24 (Mayor of Easton, Md.)
• Mr. Jeffrey & Mrs. Lucinda Dalzell, P’28 (U.S. Census Bureau)
• Mrs. Kathleen Dugan (The Center for Adoption Support and Education)
• Mr. Lee Edgar, P’28 (Chief of Engineering for the Department of Public Works QAC)
• Mrs. Jen Franks, P’25 (Legislative Aide to the Maryland General Assembly)
• Mr. Andrew Hanson, P’24’27 (Vice President of Homes for America)
• Mr. Brian Hildebrandt, P’28 (Deputy Counsel at the Naval Research Lab)
• Mrs. Jennifer Krafchik, P’28 (Senate Curator for the U.S. Capitol)
• Mr. Kevin & Mrs. Christine Joyce, P’26 (Pro Bono Lawyer Representation)
• Mr. Tim McCluskey, P’21’23’25 (Local Government Infrastructure)
• Mrs. Valerie Overton, P’24’27 (Nonprofit Management)
• Mrs. Susan Shingledecker, P’27 (Executive Director of Earth Science Information Partners)
• Mr. Gary Shenk, P’28 (Chesapeake Bay Program Watershed Model Development)
• Mrs. Kelly Shenk, P’28 (Agriculture Advisor, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
• Mr. Ryan Showalter, P’25’27 (Environmental Law)
• Mrs. Joyce Smithey, P’26 (Civil Rights Law)
• Mrs. Audrey Scott (Former Mayor of Bowie)
• Dr. Carolyn Yanavich, P’27 (Public Health & Clinical Researcher)