Imagine walking into a replica of the U.S. Senate Chamber—not as a visitor, but as a senator. For Mt. Vernon High School seniors Hayden McLaughlin and Mackenzie Moore, this became a reality in Boston.

The Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents selected Mt. Vernon High School (MVHS) to represent the state of Indiana at the DayOfAI Festival created by MIT RAISE. DayOfAI is an initiative preparing students for an AI-powered future. Two students, Hayden McLaughlin and Mackenzie Moore, traveled to Boston on July 17-19 to represent Indiana on the Student Senate, accompanied by Superintendent Dr.Jack Parker. 

During the August 10 Mt. Vernon Community School Board meeting, Dr. Parker explained how Mt. Vernon was selected for the opportunity.

“Day of AI partnered with The School Superintendents Association (AASA), the national organization connected to the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents (IAPSS). Mt. Vernon was selected by the officers of IAPSS to represent Indiana at the Day of AI Festival, and the district was invited to send two student representatives to Boston for the experience.”

The Student Senate brought together 98 students from across the country with one major goal: create a universal outline for AI use in schools. Throughout the three-day experience, students explored AI's impact on communities, learned about the legislative process, and debated a national AI policy for K-12 schools.

The experience took place at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute, which features a replica of the U.S. Senate Chamber. Students stepped into the roles of senators and participated in a mock legislative process, debating what would eventually become the Student First Act.

For Hayden, the experience felt remarkably realistic. 

“It spanned across three days, all having their own different interactions and activities for us students to do. Overall, it was a very cool reenactment of what being a senator would look like, as it was a two-scale replica of the U.S. Senate Chamber. Kenzie and I were able to sit in the very front row. I thought that was great because we were able to be more involved in the whole process.” 

The weekend began with a welcome dinner at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, where students met fellow Student Senators from across the country. The following day, they gathered at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute to begin the legislative process.

Students were divided into four subcommittees: Students, Parents, Teachers, and Administrators. Each group developed amendments that were later brought to the Senate floor for debate. Students agreed on many aspects of the bill, while other issues required lengthy discussions, compromise, and collaboration.

For Mackenzie, one of the most memorable moments happened before the debates even began.

“One really cool experience on the very first day in the Edward M. Kennedy Institute was that they had us stand up and shake hands with everyone, and I met almost all 98 student senators. Everyone was just so unique, so well educated, and it was a really cool experience I'll never forget.”

As the weekend came to a close, more than half of the Student Senators took the Senate floor to deliver speeches and share their perspectives, including Hayden and Mackenzie. After days of discussion and debate, the Student First Act passed with a vote of 83-15.

Beyond writing and debating a bill, the experience allowed students to practice skills they can carry into their futures, including collaboration, compromise, critical thinking, and public speaking while addressing one of the most rapidly changing issues facing education.

The experience extended beyond the Senate Chamber, as well. At the MIT Lab, students explored how artists are using AI in creative ways, including painting, dance, and singing.

For Hayden and Mackenzie, representing Indiana in Boston was more than a trip. It was an opportunity to see firsthand how students can have a voice in shaping the future of AI in education and to bring that experience back home to Mt. Vernon.