This year, Noble Schools sent eligible students at all 17 of our campuses to the polls to vote in the general election. For years, Noble has been committed to getting our 18-year-old students out to vote. We’ve run voter registration campaigns at our campuses and provided support to get our students to the ballots. But this is the first time we have made sure every single Noble school had an opportunity to research candidates and march to the polls together as peers.
“Being 18 and being able to vote is a right of passage. It is something that many have fought for, and we want to make sure our students know that,” said Ellen Moiani, Noble’s director of government & community affairs and the person who headed up this program.
In the last few weeks before Election Day, we sent over 250 Noble students to the ballots to vote. That’s 44% of Noble’s eligible student voters, comparable to the statewide youth voter turnout average over the last two major presidential elections.
“I am personally thrilled with this result. While the quantitative data is great, the qualitative data is what meant the most to me,” said Ellen Moiani, “There were some surprising and joyful, unexpected moments. One of them was the interactions with older generations at the polls. Some of our seasoned neighbors thanked the young people for exercising their right to vote, noting that voting was something that their community has fought for. There were hugs, tears, and smiles. This type of experience for our teens is one that I know will impact them for the rest of their lives.”
Our march this year at Butler College Prep even caught the attention of local news (ABC 7).
Check out some of the highlights from our March to the Polls across campuses:
“A lot of people may think that, ‘Oh, it’s just me, my vote doesn’t matter. Like, what difference will it make?’ But as a collective, once we put that together, it will make a difference. And I think that that’s why it’s all important, especially as the youth. We’re the future. The things that we fight for, the things that we want are basically what’s going to influence the next generations. I think that that’s very important.”
– ITW David Speer Academy senior & voter
“I was proud to be a part of this when the students said that, even though it took 30 minutes to vote, they were glad they did it.”
– Pritzker College Prep teacher
“Our ancestors fought for us to have this opportunity, and so it doesn’t matter whether you vote red or blue. Go out and vote.”
– Butler College Prep senior & voter
“We had a moment where elders approached us and were so proud of us for committing to the civic call. They expressed how—as individuals who experienced racial discrimination and actually stood in the protest crowds fighting for our rights to vote— that seeing young people rise to the call of action was a beautiful encounter.”
– Baker College Prep teacher
“I think it’s important for me and my peers to vote because, us as Gen Z, we need to start preparing for our future and start making a difference. And every vote matters. I think if we all come together, we could start making a difference in this world.”
– ITW David Speer Academy senior & voter
“I taught these students two years ago, and I got so emotional seeing them go inside the polls to vote.”
– Noble Street College Prep teacher
“I feel like everybody vote count, and I feel like our vote counts”
– Butler College Prep senior & voter
“The citizens in the polling place cheered when our babies submitted their ballots. I got goosebumps! We are a part of life milestones.”
– Gary Comer College Prep admin
“It’s important to go out and vote as young people. Our voices are usually not heard, so voting at a young age is very important for us to have our voices and our opinions out.”
– ITW David Speer Academy senior & voter
“It was so fun to see what kids wrote on their signs! It was clear that they had done their own research and felt that their voice really mattered.”
– Muchin College Prep admin
“Me voting, I just feel like now I can change the world.”
– Butler College Prep senior & voter
“Community members were cheering our students on when they arrived to vote. Once they finished voting, they rang the bell for the students. The excitement on their face made the entire experience worthwhile.
