Get out the vote

Baxter Community School District is one of 18 schools to be awarded the Carrie Chapman Catt Award in the State of Iowa. The award goes to schools who register 90 percent of eligible students to vote.

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate created the award last September to encourage voter registers ion in high school and promote the new state law which allows 17-year-olds to register and participate in primary elections.

“I want to congratulate the 18 schools that stepped up and got at least 90 percent of their eligible students to register to vote during this school year,” Pate said. “That is a remarkable achievement and shows true dedication on behalf of principals, teachers and most importantly, the students.”

Baxter was the only school is Jasper County to receive the award. It registered 90 percent of its eligible students.

“Baxter High School is incredibly excited to win the Carrie Chapman Catt Award,” Baxter social studies teacher and student council advisor Joe Amadeo said. “This award demonstrates the importance of civic responsibility to our community. We are incredibly proud of the senior class of 2020 for showing perseverance, leadership and an understanding that voting is as important as ever.”

The district will be honored during a formal trophy presentation at a later time.

The Carrie Chapman Catt Award is named after the famous Iowan who was the president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association and founded the League of Women Voters and International Alliance of Women. She successfully fought for passage of the 19th Amendment, granting women the ability to vote throughout the U.S.

In addition to the 18 schools who were awarded for reaching 90 percent, an additional 10 schools were recognized for reaching 70 percent, including Lynnville-Sully High School, and nine additional districts reached 50 percent of eligible students registered.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com