Civic Nebraska hosted its Campbell Elementary Community Learning Center‘s first-ever swearing-in ceremony for student officers on Nov. 10, bringing parents and their children together to welcome new members of the student council.

Logan Niedzielski, Civic Nebraska’s Campbell CLC school community coordinator, directed the event – and brought along Lincoln City Councilmember Brodey Weber to speak about community leadership before administering oaths of office for the school’s new student leaders.

“Having Councilman Weber with us today not only shows that the community is invested in these students and the school, but it also helps our kids understand that their role is a duty and something they should take seriously,” Logan said.

Councilmember Weber said he believes events like Campbell’s swearing-in are important for young people at the start of their journeys as young citizens to appreciate and understand the roles and responsibilities of leadership. 

“This is how it should be at every single school,” Weber said after the ceremony. “I was really excited to get to be a part of that journey for these students.”

Campbell students voted for their peers earlier this month. Each elected leader, kindergarten through fifth grade, was brought to the stage and recited their oath.  

One of them was Amber Erecks’ son, fifth-grader Kawan. Erecks is proud of her son for being elected and the journey he has been through.

“Last year he struggled a lot with his interactions with peers and behaviors,” Erecks said. “This is good for him – he’ll learn new skills, and the ability to speak for himself and others is going to be huge.”

Erecks was thankful to Campbell’s CLC for Kawan’s opportunity to be a student leader.

“When you get to high school you have all the student government bodies and you don’t know what to do so you stray away from them,” Erecks said.  “Kids getting involved in this now, at this age, lets them know, ‘Hey, you can start here.’ ”

At the close of the joyful ceremony, Weber called on all students – not just those who came to the stage – to make an impact.

“You don’t need to run for office to make a change,” the Councilmember said. “All you have to do is believe in your own ability to bring about the change you want to see.

“As long as you believe in that, you will see the change.”