The Liberty Basketball Game, is the major fundraiser for Kids Voting South Dakota, raised nearly $13,000. Wes Brown, the communications manager said, “Thanks to the Legislators, this was a record year for us, raising 4,000 more this year than in previous years, we are thankful for all their help.” The funds raised during this event are extremely important to develop and sustain the resources we offer to schools and teachers across the state. This support helps to ensure that our youth continue to learn about the importance of voting and our government, along with opportunities to practice what it means to be an active and responsible citizen.

The major program sponsors include, South Dakota Rural Electric Association and Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, The Chiesman Center for Democracy, Inc., and Curriculum sponsor, East River Electric.

to took part in the Chiesman Center’s Kids Voting South Dakota

(KVSD) 8th Bi-Annual kickoff celebration on Thursday, September 20 at

Mount Rushmore National Memorial Amphitheater.

The keynote speaker, South Dakota Secretary of State Jason Gant,

stressed the importance of voting and being active participants in our

electoral process. Those attending also listened to local entertainer, Gordy

Pratt, the Original Fabulous One Guy, engaging students in songs he

wrote about democracy and voting and a performance from Rural America

Initiative’s Ateyapi Drum Group.

Celebrating 20 years, KVSD has been providing year-round K-12

civic education programs for school districts and communities around the

state since 1992, focusing on the voting process, citizenship, and civic responsibility.

KVSD believes that active citizenship and civic engagement

begins, not ends, when ballots are cast. Kindergarten through twelfth

grade students from school districts throughout South Dakota will cast

votes on November 6th through Kids Voting South Dakota.

The Chiesman Center will partner with Rapid City schools and youth serving organizations to implement Kids Voting South Dakota® (KVSD) and Project Citizen with ChildFund sponsored children in Rapid City. Twenty to thirty high school students from the Rapid City Academy and St. Thomas More High School will work with elementary and middle school students in schools and afterschool programs in Rapid City. The high school students will attend training on leadership skills and KVSD and Project Citizen programming to prepare them to work with the younger students.

Under the guidance of mentor teachers, the high school students will mentor and coach the younger students at each of the sites. In the 2012 fall semester, the high school students will work with elementary school age students to implement Kids Voting. In the 2013 spring semester, the high school students will work with middle school age students to implement Project Citizen.

The Chiesman Center for Democracy announced on December 22nd, 2011, Ms. Rebecca Andrew as the executive director of the Civic Education programs. Previously, Rebecca Andrew served as the program assistant for the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Center, the Strengthening Communities Fund and the Institute for Educational Leadership & Evaluation at the Chiesman Center for Democracy, Inc.

Prior to joining the Chiesman Center, she was the Black Hills coordinator for the nonprofit advocacy organization, South Dakota Voices for Children. She also served as the mental health coordinator and advocate with Youth and Family Services’ Prenatal to Five Head Start Program. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Mankato State University, Mankato, Minnesota.

Major programs under Ms. Andrew’s direction will include: Kids Voting South Dakota, South Dakota Project Citizen, South Dakota Youth Congress and South Dakota’s We the People.

Email the national office (rwillis@kidsvotingusa.org) for a list of educational links that may help you as you prepare for Constitution Day in your classroom.

A special thanks to Kids Voting South Dakota, which is an organization ran by the Chiesman Center for Democracy in South Dakota, for sharing this information with Kids Voting USA.

This year’s game was unique as the Senate won 93-88. This was the first win for the Senate in three years. Additionally, the event raised $11,061. It almost doubled the efforts last year when the event brought in $6,432.

“This is definitely the largest number of legislators we’ve had volunteer this year, said DeVee Dietz, state director for Kids Voting South Dakota (Capital Journal, Ruth Brown). “This has been a really good time all around and it has given the legislators a nice opportunity for fellowship and to have some fun with competition.”

Kids Voting USA truly appreciates the work and passion Ms. Lauren Olson demonstrates for our program.