HAYWARD, Calif., March 17, 2022— Hayward Unified School District (HUSD) students and district and site leaders met with Rep. Eric Swalwell (CA-15) during a virtual meeting on Wednesday, March 16. Students were able to ask questions of Rep. Swalwell, who was on-site at the U.S. Capitol while Congress was taking votes.
Hayward High School students Calvin Yang, Nick Falk and Hannah Aunger asked the congressman questions about becoming more involved within their communities and the civic process. Rep. Swalwell, who called in from his phone, was able to share real-time images of the Capitol with the students.
The congressman told those on the call that he was sincerely impressed by this generation of young people who have experienced unique and unprecedented hardships due to COVID-19, social justice movements and more.
"It means a lot to me that you invited me to do this. What a time right now to be alive," Swalwell said during the meeting. "It's an honor to represent you in D.C. as we face some of the greatest challenges we have ever faced. You are living through times that have tested all of us, but you're in this pivotal moment, and you all have persevered, and you all are making it through this."
Rep. Swalwell also shared opportunities to get involved within their communities. He told students about internships within his Castro Valley and Washington D.C. offices and an upcoming initiative to be a part of a Youth Advisory Council that would consult him and his staff on issues.
Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne said he was proud of Yang, Falk and Aunger for their initiative to invite the congressman and thanked Rep. Swalwell for his continued support of HUSD.
"These students are our future leaders, and we are incredibly proud of them for reaching out to their congressional representative and staying involved in their civic duties," Wayne said. "Eric Swalwell has truly been a partner to our schools, and for him to show up in this way and give our students this really unique learning opportunity speaks to that."
HUSD Board of Education Trustee Peter Bufete was present and helped students to organize the meeting. He said it was an honor to have Swalwell visit with the students.
“As we look to the future of our community and working with Rep. Swalwell, we know we’re in good hands," Bufete said. "A special thanks to our students Calvin, Nick and Hannah who led this event. We could not be more proud of how well they represented Hayward Unified School District during the meeting with the congressman."
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Photo: (from left to right)
1st row: Top left is an ASL interpreter, Rep. Eric Swalwell and Hayward High School Principal Dave Seymour;
2nd row: HUSD Board of Education Trustee Peter Bufete, HHS student Nick Yang, HUSD Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne;
3rd row: Jenna Rodrigues, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent and Board of Education, HHS student Hannah Aunger, HHS student Calvin Yang
About HUSD
The Hayward Unified School District (HUSD) serves nearly 19,000 students at its 30 school sites throughout the City of Hayward. We honor our diversity and partner with our families to ensure that every student is ready to learn in a joyful and safe environment. Our goal is to provide all of our students and families opportunity and access to a range of programs that engage their interests, inspire a love of learning, challenge them to think critically and prepare them for college, career and life.
