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Five Clay County high school seniors spent Tuesday shadowing District 1 Commissioner John Sgromolo through a full day of county government operations in Green Cove Springs.

The program is now in its third year.

The students visited elected officials, toured law enforcement and fire rescue facilities, and attended briefings on emergency management. The day ended with a mock budget workshop where the five teens had to balance the county's books and "pass" a budget, according to a Clay County government news release.

How students earned a seat at the dais

Sgromolo, whose District 1 covers Fleming Island, Doctors Inlet and Lakeside, created the Commissioner for a Day program to give seniors a firsthand look at how county departments such as public safety, animal services and public works operate together.

Applicants submitted an online form with their grade-point average and a one- to two-minute video. The prompt asked: "What is your definition of leadership? What does great leadership look like in action?" The application deadline was Sept. 4, and the five participants were announced Sept. 7, according to the county's program page. The county did not release the names of this week's participants.

Past participants spread the word

The second iteration, held in March, drew students from five schools across the county: Elaina Farley from Clay High School, Brenna Finnegan from Ridgeview High School, Atreyu Johnson from Orange Park High School, Carlos Ayala from St. Johns Classical Academy and Eden Daniels from Oakleaf High School. In April, Sgromolo brought two earlier alumni, Raeghyn Cobb of St. Johns Country Day School and McKinzy Alexander of Middleburg High School, to present the program to the Orange Park Rotary Club.

No date set for the next session

Sgromolo celebrated the day in a post on X on Wednesday, the day after the program wrapped: "Clay County Commissioner For A Day was a great success! The future of Clay County is very bright! Thank you to all of our partners who made it a memorable day for our students."

No date for a fourth Commissioner for a Day has been announced. Residents with questions can contact the county at [email protected].