Newspaper staff members will leave this afternoon to travel to Pierre on their annual Winter Honors Trip to observe the state legislature in action.

The three day long excursion will give the newspaper staff the chance to sit in on committee hearings, watch the legislature debate issues adn work with professional journalists. Staff members will conclude the event with a press conference with Gov. Mike Rounds and legislative leaders on Friday.

Newspaper adviser Jason Lueth will travel with the honor students including seniors Chris Stanga, Charlie Butler, Dylan O’Donnell, Aaron McGuire, Josh McKinney, Noelle Thompson, Jessi Erickson, Ashley Elbers, Shelah Economo and Samantha Goettsch and juniors Sam Soholt and Brent Jamison.

Goettsch, who will be attending for her second time, said she enjoyed the trip last year.

“We learned a lot about the state’s government on the trip,” Goettsch said. “We went around to various different committee meetings, and attended the floor sessions. It was a great experience.”

Crissman also enjoyed the experience last year, though his experience was a different one as he played a part in killing a bill that would have made school days longer.

“I had a really fun time watching everything take place,” Crissman said. “I was able to do interviews with the legislature and even got to testify in the House Education Committee that longer school days would be horrifying. I feel my testimony virtually destroyed the bill.”

The experience for Butler will be a new one this year.

“I hope to learn more about how the state legislature works,” Butler said. “I’m looking forward to meeting the governor and legislature during the trip.”

Lueth said he is looking forward to watching the South Dakota Legislature in action.

“This is an excellent opportunity for students to observe the law-making process first hand,” Lueth said. “Journalism students will observe professional journalists in action and I’m hoping for a fun and educational time for everybody involved.”