AIC holds 68th Model Congress
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| Sen. John Kerry |
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| Anthony Cignoli |
SPRINGFIELD--Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) will deliver the keynote address at the 68th Model Congress at American International. Kerry will make his remarks on Friday, Jan. 11 at 11:00 a.m. in the Esther B. Griswold Theatre.
More than 300 students from throughout New England and New York are expected to attend the three day event, Jan. 10-12, the longest running event of its kind in the country.
Political consultant Anthony Cignoli will be the banquet speaker on Saturday, Jan. 12 at 5:00 p.m. in the AIC Dining Commons.
The students spend the three days writing, debating, amending and voting on legislation, much of which mirrors issues being considered by the U.S. Congress. AIC faculty judges rate the student legislators based on debating and parliamentary procedure skills and will award more than $150,000 in AIC scholarships.
Kerry was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1982, and two years later, he was elected to the United States Senate. He has won reelection three-times since and is now serving his fourth term, after winning again in 2002 by the largest margin in Massachusetts history. During his two decades of service, he fought for fiscal discipline, expanded children's health care, fought to put 100,000 more cops on America's streets, and worked with Senator John McCain (R-AZ) to investigate the fate of American POW/MIAs and help soldiers suffering from exposure to Agent Orange.
Cignoli is the president of the A. L. Cignoli Company, the public relations, political and governmental affairs company he founded 18 years ago. He is a veteran of many political campaigns, including the recent presidential elections in Peru, the 2006 Italian Prime Minister and Parliamentary campaigns and was engaged in 2006 in governor's races in Iowa and Maryland. Cignoli is a frequent commentator and political analyst on local radio and television news programs in Western Massachusetts, as well as on New England Cable News, CNN and MSNBC.
Mathew Wisniewski, of Bethel, Conn., will chair the 68th Model Congress. Wisniewski is a junior majoring in International Studies and Political Science. He is involved with the Peer Mentor Program, and has been a member of the International Club as the Global Awareness Chairperson, and Residence Life. His involvement with Young Professionals for International Cooperation has opened the doors to his internship at the United Nations.
Model Congress begins with an emergency session at the Springfield Sheraton, Thursday, Jan. 10 at 7:00 p.m. The session gives delegates and observers a chance to practice their debating and parliamentary skills with a bill they have never seen.
The students meet in committees on Friday, Jan. 11, where they amend and vote on legislation. The committee meetings are held from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in Amaron Hall. Legislation passed in committee goes on to the House and Senate, which convenes on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in the Schwartz Campus Center.
Winners will be announced at the Model Congress Banquet, Saturday, Jan. 12 at 5:00 p.m. in the AIC Dining Commons.
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