Reading, writing and...campaigning?

On their bi-annual volunteer day, some Catlin Gabel students abandon traditional duties to stump for the candidates

By Christina Lent

The Beaverton Valley Times, Oct 30, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Jaime Valdez / The Beaverton Valley Times

Lauren Edelson and Luke Rodgers both juniors at Catlin Gabel Upper School assemble Barack Obama political signs for supporters to pick up at the Washington County Democratic headquarters on Farmington Road in Beaverton.

ADVERTISEMENTS

While others volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Loaves & Fishes and eight other nonprofit service agencies across the community, 35 Catlin Gabel students decided to throw themselves into the midst of a heated political battle.

As part of a long-standing tradition at the private school, all 287 students in the Upper School stepped out of the classroom Friday to volunteer with a project of their choice for the twice-yearly community service day.

Junior Abby Conyers decided to lend a hand calling voters for the John McCain campaign and other Republican candidates rather than volunteer to work with children as she normally would.

“Because of the time it is now and how important the election is, I thought it would be interesting seeing a different side of the presidential race,” said Conyers, who sways more to the Democratic Party while her parents are Independent voters. “I really didn’t know much about McCain because all the talk has been about (Barack) Obama.

“I thought it would be interesting to work with different people and hear different ideas from what I’m used to.”

In between calls reminding folks to cast their ballots, Conyers read election materials supporting McCain and highlighting arguments against Obama.

“I also learned a lot about Gordon Smith and found I agree with a lot of his ideas,” she said.

Across Beaverton, Nauvin Ghorashian, another junior, kept busy with 30 other Catlin Gabel volunteers pitching in with the Barack Obama campaign and other Democratic Party candidates.

“This is a big election and an influential year — I’m really nervous about how it will turn out, but I keep on hoping,” said Ghorashian, who serves as an intern with the Obama campaign outside of school.

In selecting which project to participate in Friday, catching up with the Obama campaign “popped off the list.”

1 | 2 Next Page >>