PHX Reporter

Sariah Goodsell walked around the 24th Street Station platform at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport with a notebook and pen, asking everyone in sight for autographs. It was her way of documenting the start of the third annual Civics Matters Arizona program, highlighting its significance to the junior from Copper Canyon High School.

"This is my first time being on a plane, first time going to Washington," Goodsell said. "I love history. This is the biggest event that's happened to me ever."

In partnership with the Close Up Foundation and Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, Civics Matters Arizona is a program launched by the Cardinals in 2022. Flying on the Cardinals team plane, 275 high school students from across the state travel to the nation's capital on an all-expenses-paid trip.

"We wanted to do something great with this airplane and we thought, 'How can we do that and inspire the youth at that same time?'" Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said. "I think these kids are representative of the future and I think we, as people in positions that have a platform, can create an atmosphere where they learn and are inspired to do great things in their own lives."

Nearly 40 schools from 14 school districts were represented. As part of the application process for the trip, each student had to write an essay response about civics engagement initiatives.

Chrisangel Robles, a sophomore at Alta Vista High School, wrote his piece about how drugs can negatively impact youth and his goal to eliminate this problem. His classmate Ernesto Castelo focused on fundraising and door-to-door campaigning benefits. Goodsell, a member of the National Honor Society, shared how youth could help in government.

Hobbs emphasized that programs like this serve as excellent introductions to politics and community service efforts. Reflecting on her own experiences at a similar age listening to topics from then-Secretary of State.

This week, these students will hear from various dignitaries while in D.C.

"They are going have a lot more exposure to national politics, and I think that's really great," Hobbs said. "They're the leaders that we need."

Through workshops and meetings with politicians such as Senator Mark Kelly and Congressman Juan Ciscomani, students will have hands-on opportunities to make an impact.

After two successful years, Bidwill, along with the Cardinals organization, Close Up Foundation, and Hobbs aim for continued success with this initiative.

"What I learned is that this really does make a difference for kids and it plants seeds in their head," Bidwill said. "When they come back in four days, they're going to be transformed and this group will be a unified group because they get very close."