Given the water contamination crisis in Flint, some folks understandably have a negative view of government these days.

But five Oxford High School students saw the value of government firsthand at the 36th annual Youth in Government program hosted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on April 25.

Participating OHS students included Gregory Marshall, Makayla Marshall, Tabitha Sterner, Noah Szymanski, and Olivia Upham. Teacher Lauren Jasinski was there as well.

The program was intended to give students some insight regarding the operations of local government and its importance, according to Jim Nash, Water Resource Commissioner of Oakland County.

“We’re always trying to show the new generation what we do,” he said. “You hear a lot about how bad government is, but we run the county government really well here,”

Oakland County’s elected officials took turns explaining their roles to the high school students from around the county, who packed into the Board of Commissioners’ Auditorium in Pontiac.

This was the county’s way of celebrating April as National County Government Month.

The event inspired some students, like OHS senior Makayla Marshall, to take a more active role in their local government.

“A lot of people ridicule the government or they go, ‘Oh, I don’t know much about the government and I’m just going to pass it off to someone else to take care of those issues for us,’” she said. “But really, it’s up to us to make those decisions and people don’t realize how much of an impact they have when they go out there and vote and attend their local county meetings. I actually registered to vote today.”

Students finished the day with tours related to water and health information.

Nash, Deputy County Executive of Oakland County Bob Daddow, and Department of Health and Human Services Director George Miller gave a joint presentation about water quality.

The program left many commissioners with a feeling of confidence, according to Nash.

“I have full faith in this new generation,” Nash said.” I’ve talked to so many of them over the years and they care about the environment . . . They care about the issues around them. It was great to see them here.” Nash said.

Students received certificates recognizing their participation in the program.