Twelfth Graders Witness Government in Action with Visit to Senator Shelley Moore Capito ’71 on Capitol Hill

The fundamental question of whether the United States Congress truly operates as a democratic body moved from abstract theory to reality for Holton's senior government students when they visited Holton alumna Senator Shelley Moore Capito ’71 on Capitol Hill. 

As part of an intensive unit dissecting the legislative branch—exploring everything from the structure and function of the institution to the polarizing realities of lobbying, gridlock, the filibuster, and gerrymandering—their classroom exploration culminated in a direct, high-level connection to the nation's capital.

In front of the Statue of Freedom in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, Senator Capito - West Virginia’s first female U.S. Senator - reflected on her work on school safety, including introducing the Safer Schools Act, and credited Holton for the independence and confidence that have shaped her public service. She encouraged students to speak boldly and thoughtfully in civic spaces: “My power is my vote, and my vote is just as impactful as a man’s.” 

After their conversation with Senator Capito, students toured the Capitol and observed proceedings from the Senate gallery. Watching senators introduce legislation, debate policy, and cast votes provided an unfiltered extension of their classroom discussions. Many students remarked on the informality of the chamber compared to the gravity of the decisions being made. Seeing a federal judge confirmed with a quick “thumbs-up/thumbs-down” vote and witnessing a bill introduction in real time helped them bridge the gap between textbook diagrams and the lived practice of lawmaking.

The alumnae connection added an invaluable dimension to the experience, offering students not only an inside view but also a powerful example of a Holton graduate shaping national governance. Students left the Capitol with a richer understanding of the democratic process and with renewed appreciation for the ways Holton alumnae model leadership on the national stage.