Shadow Ridge High School social studies teacher, Matthew Nighswonger, has been recognized for helping his students become more involved in voting and the government. He is earning the Helen J. Stewart Award for getting over 85% of seniors registered to vote, and will be receiving the award on May 5th, 2026.
This award highlights an important issue, that young people have historically not participated in elections at the same rate as older generations. Because of this, political decisions often reflect the priorities of older voters more than younger ones, which can leave younger voices underrepresented.
“The youth does not historically participate in our democracy at a high percentage,” Nighswonger stated. “That is part of the reason politics is so skewed to the older population here in America.”
Rather than treating this as a fixed pattern, Nighswonger has focused on making engagement more accessible and meaningful for students. He has made it a priority to encourage students to take the first step in registering to vote and to understand that participation can start early and have a real impact.
Nighswonger continued, “I push my students to be involved in our country and government. They can’t be involved if they don’t vote. This is the first step to getting them involved in our government.”
By focusing on voter registration in a structured and supportive way, Nighswonger hopes that students begin to see that their voices matter now, not just in the future. He also believes that increased participation from younger voters can help encourage more conversations around issues that directly affect them.
“If our younger voters get more involved, our leaders will have to be more responsive to the policies that matter to the future of our country,” he explained.
Reaching over 85% of seniors was a major accomplishment and required consistent effort and encouragement throughout the year. Nighswonger worked to make registration straightforward and approachable, helping students stay informed and engaged along the way.
Senior Kyliegh Hatch stated, “He encourages students to stay informed and be part of what’s going on. You can tell he genuinely wants us to participate, not just learn about it in theory.”
He is actively helping students to feel confident and capable of being involved in the governent. Nighswonger is building an environment where involvement feels important and encouraging. The Helen J. Stewart Award recognizes that impact, celebrating his efforts to inspire students to take part in shaping their future.
