CHS sophomores, juniors and seniors can apply for an all-expenses-paid week in the nation’s capital through Close Up. Applications are due Nov. 20.
Former U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry visited Clarendon High School today with big news for sophomores, juniors and seniors: an all-expenses-paid, weeklong trip to Washington, D.C., in the summer of 2027.
The trip comes through the Close Up program, and it is open only to Clarendon High School students.
Thornberry knows these hallways well. He is a Clarendon High School graduate celebrating his 50th class reunion this year. He went on to represent the Texas Panhandle in Congress for 26 years and chaired the House Armed Services Committee.
About Close Up
Close Up was founded in 1971 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan civic education organization built on the belief that a strong democracy depends on citizens who are informed and involved. Its mission is to inform, inspire and empower young people to exercise their rights and take on the responsibilities of citizenship.
Texas students have been part of Close Up from the very beginning. The first program in 1971 brought 554 students from Florida, Oklahoma and Texas to Washington. Today the organization works with students and teachers in more than 2,500 schools across all 50 states and the U.S. territories, and it has served more than one million students and educators.
The idea behind the program is simple: let students engage directly with the people and institutions of our democracy, and they build the skills and habits for a lifetime of active citizenship. Participants study history, government institutions, current issues and the role of citizens, and they practice stating their own views and listening respectfully to others.
How to apply
Applications are available in the high school office and the school library. Completed applications are due Nov. 20. Students with questions should stop by the high school office.
Thank you
Clarendon CISD thanks Mac Thornberry for investing in our students and for bringing this opportunity home. We believe public schools are essential to fostering community and developing engaged citizens, and this trip puts that belief into action.