DES MOINES, IOWA (February 22, 2021) — Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate announces Rivermont Collegiate School has qualified for the 2021 Carrie Chapman Catt Award by registering more than ninety-percent of eligible students to vote. The award is named after the famous Iowan who was instrumental in securing passage of the 19th Amendment, granting women access to the ballot box.
“Congratulations to Rivermont Collegiate for earning this prestigious award by getting students engaged in the electoral process,” Sec Pate said. “It shows a lot of dedication by the students, their teachers and school leadership to register 90 percent of eligible students. I encourage all Iowa high schools to take an active role in helping their students become voters.”
A total of 18 Iowa schools registered at least 90% of eligible students to vote during the 2019-20 school year. Rivermont Collegiate becomes the first school to qualify for the award this year and the first to qualify for the award twice. The deadline is April 16.
“At Rivermont, we are invested in preparing our students to be thoughtful citizens, who use their gifts to create positive change in their local, national, and global communities,” said Collin Lawrence, Director of Student and Residential Life at Rivermont Collegiate. “We are honored to be awarded the Carrie Chapman Catt Award for the second year in a row and appreciate the efforts of Sec of State Pate and his office in engaging our students and other youth of the state of Iowa in the process of civic participation. Voting is one of the most powerful ways for citizens to make their voices heard. Today's students are tomorrow's leaders.”
A trophy presentation will take place at Rivermont Collegiate at a later time. Schools interested in competing for the Carrie Chapman Catt Award should visit the Sec of State’s website, sos.iowa.gov.
