As Nevada’s Legislative Session wound down this June with a flurry of eleventh-hour compromises, 18 Honors College students watched with newfound insight into civic life. They weren't distant spectators, but participants freshly attuned to the layers of democracy in action. 

They had spent the semester in HON 410: Modalities of Citizenship, an upper-division seminar taught by professor Bryan Blankfield, asking: “How do we perform citizenship in the modern world?” Through readings, discussion, and an exclusive three-day trip to Nevada’s capital during spring break, the students examined how citizens can advocate for change — and experienced firsthand how civic ideals translate into action.

From the Classroom to the Capital

The lessons from the classroom came into sharp focus in Carson City, where students found themselves bundled in jackets and clutching hot coffees as they navigated the capital’s historic streets. Far from a sightseeing tour, the trip gave students a front-row seat to policymaking in action — one that made abstract concepts from class suddenly feel urgent and real.

“We learned about civic engagement in class, but experiencing it in real life — like being in the room when Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto addressed the Nevada Senate or having a group discussion with Gov. Lombardo — made such a difference,” said Honors student Rosemary Hernandez Lopez. “You really feel the weight of what’s happening around you.”

The trip was made possible through the generosity of the Investment Counsel Company of Nevada and its CEO, Randy Garcia — a UNLV alumnus — who sponsored this unique opportunity for Honors College students. 

“I firmly believe that students residing in our community should have the same opportunity as more privileged students at elite universities,” said Garcia, ’77 BS Accounting. “UNLV was generous to me during my on-campus years. I made a commitment at that time to continue the goodwill shown to me and am proud to honor that pledge.”

The result was a rare and dynamic learning experience that transformed students from observers into active participants. 

Speaking Up for Change

Several students spoke in support of two bills that ultimately passed:

• Senate Bill 322, which mandates professional development training for members of the Nevada Board of Regents
• Senate Bill 266, which expands loan repayment programs to behavioral health providers across the state.

“It was amazing to share how this bill could impact my family and friends,” said Public Health major Kira Kramer, who testified in support of SB 266. “It made me feel like my voice mattered.”

Students met privately with key elected officials, including Gov. Joe Lombardo, who invited the group for an extended conversation inside the old Nevada State Capitol Building. Later, during a live Senate session, several students were invited onto the floor to sit beside lawmakers as the day’s proceedings unfolded —  an unforgettable moment of recognition and inclusion.

They also explored the Capitol’s marble corridors and uncovered stories etched into its walls — like the bullet-pierced portrait of Abraham Lincoln in the Assembly chamber, restored but never fully erased.

Beyond the Chamber: Exploring Political Influence

Professor Bryan Blankfield, who integrated the trip into the course design, emphasized that the immersive experience was deeply tied to the curriculum.

“It’s one thing to learn about the process in an abstract way — it’s another to actually be there inhabiting the legislative building, watching people bustling around and participating in the pomp and ceremony. You look up and think, ‘That’s my representative.’ There’s a real vibe and energy to it that you just can’t replicate in a classroom.”

During the trip, students also had the chance to engage with Honors College alumni working in government advocacy, including Andy Belanger, ’98 BA Political Science, of the Las Vegas Valley Water District; Paul Moradkhan, ’02 BA English, of the Vegas Chamber; and Annie Vong, ’24 BA Political Science, of Cartwright NV Government Affairs.

In candid conversations, the alumni offered insights into how lobbyists influence policy, build relationships, and represent community interests within Nevada’s legislative landscape.

“Talking with lobbyists gave students a window into a side of the legislative process they don’t usually see,” Blankfield said. “Those kinds of interactions helped them connect the dots between what they’re learning and how it plays out in the real world.”

A Model for Civic Education

Lisa Menegatos, dean of the UNLV Honors College, helped spearhead the trip and accompanied students to Carson City.

“It’s a rare opportunity for students to go behind the scenes of the legislative process — to see how a bill actually becomes a law — and to meet some of the power brokers shaping the future of our state,” she said.

She emphasized the critical role of community partnerships in creating meaningful learning opportunities like the trip. “We’re incredibly grateful to Randy Garcia and the Investment Counsel Company,” she added. “Without their generosity, this trip simply would not have happened.”

For Menegatos, civic literacy is more than a learning outcome; it’s a democratic necessity.

“We need an educated, informed, and actively engaged citizenry in order to have a strong and healthy democracy,” she said. “Civic engagement starts with understanding the problems a community is facing and then mindfully, sincerely asking, ‘How can I be part of the solution?’ Dr. Blankfield and I wanted the students to learn how to advocate for their communities, how to enact positive change.”

That sentiment was echoed by Public Policy major Aeron Pearson as he reflected on the experience during the group’s final dinner in Carson City: “We are here because we want to make a difference. The core of this class is about making change and exploring the different ways citizens can participate. This trip gave us the chance to actually do it.”

UNLV journalism student Yaritzza Montenegro contributed to this article.