Six Lee University students traveled to the Tennessee Statehouse in Nashville to participate in the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislation (TISL), and two received awards for their efforts. 

“I am so proud of our student delegation at TISL this year,” said Dr. Mark Scully, assistant professor of political science at Lee. “We represented all three branches of government—legislative, executive, and judicial—and in each branch, we stood apart by our cool, rational, and persuasive arguments and outstanding character.” 

The annual TISL General Assembly is a four-day conclave of engaged and policy-minded college students from across the state at the Historic Tennessee State Capitol in Downtown Nashville. Typically, more than 400 students from over 40 colleges and universities participate, representing more than 95% of Tennessee college students. 

In the simulation, the students were each assigned a different legislative role in the same case and took part in committee meetings, revised and amended bills, and reported them to the House and Senate Floor. 

“Getting to sit in the Chambers and debate as the real representatives and senators do was a very cool experience,” said Rebecca Bays, senior political science major. “Not only were we able to understand more about the procedure and basic outline of general assemblies and bill passing, but we were able to engage with students from many other colleges, backgrounds, and political views.” 

Macy Petty, junior public administration major, received the Outstanding Representative Award, which is granted based on possessing great skill in debate, having knowledge of parliamentary procedure, being effective in session, and on the quality of legislation sponsored.  

Dante Williams, junior political science major, won the Carlisle Award which is given to 10 outstanding legislators and is TISL’s oldest and most prestigious award. 

Participating students include Bays, associate justice on the Tennessee Intercollegiate Supreme Court; Brandon Newell, lieutenant governor; Maddy Niederstadt, Caroline Perkins, and Petty, house delegation; and Williams, senate delegation. 

“These students worked hard, but more importantly they represented Lee and its values with great dignity,” said Scully. “In many ways, they demonstrated in their practice what many of us hope for most in politics.” 

For more information about TISL, visit tislonline.org.  

For more information about Lee’s political science program, visit leeuniversity.edu/political-science.