Students from Wayland and many other Texas private schools were in Austin to visit with legislators specifically about the Tuition Equalization Grant, a state grant that helps offset tuition at private schools and makes those institutions more accessible to students. The organization plans meetings between students and their state representatives and senators.
Students are also able to sit in on legislative hearings and witness state government first hand.
An aspiring politician, Messer has received a TEG grant for two years and said it definitely made a difference in how much loan debt he will incur. He said the highlight of the trip was a lengthy meeting with Speaker of the House Pete Laney of Hale Center. We just talked about what we were studying and what we wanted to do with our lives. Though she's not planning a career in politics, senior Talyia Lane also enjoyed the chance to witness legislators at work and be a voice for a valuable program. The Pampa native liked getting to visit with Laney about how the TEG she received each year at Wayland has helped her to study business.