The Center for Governmental Studies will receive $1 million in funding from the federal government to use to further develop its Youth Leadership Initiative -- a program designed to introduce young people to politics.
The million-dollar appropriation was attached as a part of the Department of Education's budget for the 2000 fiscal year, Center Program Director Alex Theodoridis said.
But the government funding is less than half of the amount needed to implement the Initiative on a state-wide level, Youth Leadership Initiative Director Ken Stroupe said.
Stroupe said the funds will be used to help finance the Initiative, which promotes activities designed to engage young people in the political system.
Over 5,000 Virginia students participated in a mock election over the Internet sponsored by the Center's Youth Leadership Initiative Oct. 26.
One of the Center's other projects is the statewide distribution of an interactive CD that will allow students to stage virtual state and federal election campaigns, Stroupe said.
Both the Center and the University lobbied Congress to appropriate funds to further launch the program, Theodoridis said.
"It was either this or Regis Philbin [game show host of 'Who Wants To Be a Millionaire']. And I decided I had better contacts in Congress," said Larry J. Sabato, Center director and government and foreign affairs professor.
"I am delighted to say I was able to get strong support from the entire Virginia delegation as well as key members outside of Congress," Sabato said.
Strong support for the Youth Leadership Initiative came from the 13 Virginia congressmen as well as other key congressmen -- their efforts were critical to the survival of the proposal in the budget, he said.
"The Center and the University very much appreciates the leadership [Congress] has shown by supporting this project and the general theme of civic participation," Theodoridis said.
"The fact that the members of the Virginia delegation and several other key congressional members were so supportive of this, based on what they've seen from this program in the past is a very promising indication for the YLI as well as our nation's democratic process," he said.
Stroupe said he feels the success of the program may lead to more future support.
"If we continue to execute it well, then hopefully support will be there in the future," he said.
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