Video by Eric Keith

Carl Merrigan voted in his first election in November after hours serving as a student poll worker. The Bishop LeBlond High School senior believed what he did during that day gave him a special appreciation for taking a ballot in the booth that evening.

“I truly valued it because I was able to visualize the vast process I was taking part in and the many different people participating with me,” he wrote of the experience.

His essay to the Missouri Youth Election Participation Program earned Mr. Merrigan the top scholarship, $1,500, among the Buchanan County students involved in the effort.

Bound for William Jewell College this fall to major in physics and philosophy, the LeBlond graduate joined four other scholarship recipients at an Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art reception Thursday afternoon.

Others getting scholarships for their youth-election work and essays were:

Kelsey Makos from Benton High School, $1,000, planning to attend Missouri Western State University.

Holly Switzer from Benton High School, $1,000, planning to attend William Jewell.

Dain Finney from Bishop LeBlond, $750, planning to attend Benedictine College.

Brenna Butner from Central High School, $750, planning to attend the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Ms. Makos, whose essay paid homage to the American freedoms found by her immigrant great-grandparents, echoed the sentiments of other recipients about the numerous components involved in conducting elections. “There’s a lot more to it than I had thought,” she said.

Added Ms. Switzer, who said the program would forever shape her voting experience, “I know the whole other side now.”

Pat Conway, the Buchanan County clerk who conceived the program here 10 years ago, told the reception crowd that the students’ work proves a tangible help, but also teaches the young people about the democratic process.

Ms. Butner said working at the polls also taught some broader lessons. “There are people that are willing to cooperate, there are people who are really frustrated,” she said. “I think I learned in that situation, you have to get along with everyone.”

Ms. Finney added, “Being on the other side of the table and knowing that we want more and more people to come in and vote, I think it will make me be a more active citizen when I get older.”

The program operates in two-year cycles, with students beginning as juniors, and had 42 participants. It is open to students in all public and private high schools in Buchanan County.

Dr. David Tushaus of Missouri Western, who helped the county with an elections program, and Gary Baack, recipient of the Poll Worker Award of Excellence, were also honored at the reception, which was hosted by the News-Press.

Ken Newton can be reached at kenn@npgco.com.