The Informed Young Leaders Series starts its third year of PechaKucha-style presentations on vital political issues by local high school students. Students from two Midcoast schools -- Medomak Valley  (Waldoboro) and Oceanside (Rockland) high schools– will be delivering PechaKucha-style presentations (20 slides, 20 seconds per slide) on Immigration: By the Numbers’ at two separate events on May 24 and May 26.

The first event is taking place on Wednesday, May 24, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Oceanside High School auditorium in Rockland. The second event is taking place Friday, May 26 at 8:50 a.m. at Medomak Valley High School in Waldoboro, from 8:50 to 9:45 a.m.

Both events are open to the public. There is no admission charge.

Students from Oceanside will be presenting on Common Myths of Immigration, Impacts of Immigration Policies and Benefits of Immigration for USA. Students from Medomak Valley will be presenting on Immigration and the American Workforce, Assimilation of Immigrants, Examining the Legal vs. Illegal Status of Immigrants in America, and Comparing U.S. Immigration Policies vs. Other Countries’ Policies.

The Informed Young Leaders Series has received praise from lawmakers, teachers, administrators and parents alike, including Gov. LePage, Senator Susan Collins.

“Getting students to participate in this challenging activity has produced some of the most stimulating conversations I’ve ever had in a classroom,” said Jake Newcomb, the social studies teacher from Medomak Valley High School whose students have participated in each IYL event since the program’s inception in 2015.

Graham Shove of Oceanside High School echoed Jake Newcomb’s comments, saying, ‘This is a great program that offers students a unique opportunity to take active leadership roles at school.”

One of the additional benefits for the students is to get direct feedback from members of the community prior to the public presentation. Working with the students for this event will be Chris Rector and Patrica Aho, regional representatives for U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins, respectively. Also working with the students will be the branch managers from The First Bank, one of the lead sponsors for the Informed Young Leaders Series, and Dana Strout, a local trial attorney.

Event organizer, Nick Lapham, said that the Informed Young Leaders Series is becoming a regular part of student extra-curricular activities at both Oceanside and Medomak, and expects that Camden Hills will be participating in the fall event. “This is now our seventh event, and I expect to be expanding outside the immediate area in the fall,” Lapham stated. “Once again, we have a very compelling topic for our event, and I strongly encourage anyone who wants to hear multiple views on this key subject to come and listen to our students. I promise that the students will impress the audience.”

Eastern Tire & Rubber and The First Bank are once again the lead sponsors for this year’s program, Courier Publications/Village Soup is the media sponsor for the upcoming events.