Plainfield High School - Milestone Yearbook (Plainfield, NJ)

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Model Congress 1986 On the weekend of March 21-23, 1986, 33 Law Political Action students traveled to Stocton State in Pomona, NJ to participate in the 17th Annual Model Congress. Model Congress is composed of app. 500 students from across the state who compete in Congressional Committee and Full House or Senate Debates. Bills must be submitted and researched well in advance of the weekend. Preparation for this event took place at PHS with long hours of bill selection, research and classroom debate both pro and con before leaving for the weekend activities. Politics being what they are, the Political Parties, Stars, Stripes and KEG were also represented and lobbying for Committee approval and Full House or Senate passage of their bills was an exciting part of the weekend activities. Awards were given to recognize the ‘‘Best’’ school reps involved in Leadership roles and Jill Johnson (Star) and Ben Brown (KEG) were chosen Best Party Leaders. Final conference upon returning to PHS. Left to Right, B. Franklin, T. Donovan, R. Garrison, R. Edwards, T. Williams, J. Johnson, B. Brown, R. Liggon. There were only 34 Committee Chairs and representing PHS were: Tom Donovan, Robin Edwards, Bryon Franklin, Renetta Garrison, Raquel Liggon and Tawana Williams. From over 500 Committee bills only a few are eligible for Full Debate on the House or Senate floor. This year, of the 5 Best Legislation Awards, one was given to Howard Dashiell for his bill to abolish the electric chair which was hotly debated on the Senate floor. The other Senators or Representatives to the Congress from PHS were: Jennifer Allen, Rod Alston, Rochelle Barham, Regina Barkley, Danny Bender, Tyrza Blake, Billy Brister, Denise Brown, Steve Brown, Erica Dotch, Brenda Drayton, Tomara Fisher, Taraka Gilbert, Rebecca Hendricks, Ken Jenkins, Gwen Jones, Ramona Journigan, Veronica Luck, Krystal Miller, Yolanda Murry, Cathryn Smith, Deborah Warner, Gina Wilkinson and Nina Wilkinson. Mr. S. Marsh and Mr. P. Pannone are the course instructors. Leadership Day: PHS reps meeting in strategy planning sessions with the reps from other schools. 11

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Student Council The Jerseyans 1985-86 Officers President: Hal Hamilton V. President: Paulette Fair Secretary: Taraka Gilbert Treasurer: Lisa Spruiel Historian: Eric Jones Advisor: Miss A. Sarro 10 Student Council Officers 1985-86 President: Nina Wilkinson V. President: Renetta Garrison Secretary: Veronica Luck Treasurer: Benjamin Brown Advisor: Mr. S. Marsh. Row 1: E. Jones, H. Hamilton, M. Moton Row 2: G. Johnson, T. Gilbert Row 3: L. Spruiel, P. Fair

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Peer Leadership 1985 — 86 Row 1: V. McLean, T. Stanley, R. Barkley, P. Harper, W. Carden, D. Warner, R. Liggon, R. Sterling. Row 2: H. Dashiell, H. Hamilton, F. Hines, J. Bailey, J. Truitt, B. Franklin, M. Vargas. 1985 — 86 marked the first year for Peer Leadership at P.H.S. Chosen along with Camden and Trenton as Urban Pilot Schools, this program is funded by the Fund for New Jersey. 12 Seniors, acting as Co-Leaders met with groups of 10 — 12 freshmen and through discussions and activities tried to help them develop leadership skills and provide options for encounter problems in or out of school. Meeting every Thursday during the lst semester and Tuesdays and Thursdays second semester, they met with approximately 144 freshmen over the school year. The ultimate objective of these sessions was to foster some type of behavioral change in the freshmen. The pilot group of Co-Leaders met the challenges pre- P.H.S. Co-Leaders 85-86 Wanda Carden — Raquel Liggon Hal Hamilton — Tawanna Stanley Renee Sterling — Mario Vargas Fred Hines — Regina Barkley Veronica McLean — Howard Dashiell Bryon Franklin — Deborah Warner Peer Leadership Staff Mr. J. Bailey — Mrs. P. Harper — Mr. J. Truitt 12 sented and proved to be effective, dedicated and respon- sible. Overall, the Seniors developed more awareness of the responsibilities of the school experience which will follow them throughout life. Funded for the next year, the P.H.S. program was evalu- ated by Columbia Graduate students and received an A+ rating. Hopefully, some of the freshmen will become future Peer Leaders. Program expansion includes raising the number of Senior Leaders and expanding the program into the middle school for high school preparation. Congradulations are in order for this outstanding group of Seniors and the Peer Leadership Staff.