ATHENS, WV (LOOTPRESS) – ATHENS, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A class of Concord University history students were treated to a visit from members of the West Virginia Legislature on Thursday.
Facilitated by Concord History Professor Richard K. Lilly, the visit saw State Senate member Vince Deeds, House of Delegates members Elliott Pritt and Christopher Toney, and former House of Delegates member Kayla Kessinger address students of Professor Lilly’s History 307, a course which focuses on the history of West Virginia.
“It was excellent,” Professor Lilly tells LOOTPRESS of the state leaders’ time with the class. “They talked quite a bit about economic opportunities and challenges to WV such as the drug epidemic.
They also all addressed the value of education and continued learning. Kayla especially encouraged the females in the class to consider entering into public service. Students engaged heavily with relevant questions.”
Kessinger, one of three former students of Professor Lilly’s to stop by – along with Delegates Pritt and Toney – detailed the experience.
“We shared a bit about why we ran initially and some of the things that we’ve done, and really just provided an overview of what it’s like running for office and being in the State Legislature,” she stated. “Sharing with the students a little bit about that was fantastic.”
The former Delegate also offered words of encouragement to all the students, particularly emphasizing the validity of ambitions political and otherwise for the female students present.
“My heart is to encourage young women to really show up to whatever they’re called to in life; to show up and to be confident in all of the gifts that they have as women; so, it was really cool for me to see and talk to a couple of the students about how they may want to get involved in campaigns or in government after they graduate,” Kessinger said following the visit.
Delegates Toney and Pritt spoke with LOOTPRESS to share their respective experiences with the WV History students. Delegate Toney pointed out how it was equally rewarding for the state leaders to have the opportunity to provide some insight on the political process to the students.
“It was a really good experience, not only for us, but I think for the students as well,” he said. “We talked about government and how it works. Specifically, we stressed that here in the state we’re a citizen legislature, but many states aren’t like that. They had really good questions for each of us. Some of it was political; some of it was just about our jobs and how college prepared us to do what we’re now doing.”
Delegate Pritt addressed his own experience not only in the WV Legislature, but also of that leading up to his election and how it informs his work today, telling LOOTPRESS,
“We spoke about the importance of having people who actually care about their communities in office serving them. I also spoke about military service and my career as a teacher, and how those things and life experiences prepared me for the Legislature.”
The West Virginia Legislature is scheduled to convene for upcoming Interim Committee Sessions beginning Sunday, May 7, 2023.