CONTACT: Nikki Fisher | Nikki.Fisher@OR.KidGovernor.org
Rosie Lanenga Sworn In as 2025 Oregon Kid Governor
SALEM, OR – The 2025 Oregon Kid Governor Rosie Lanenga was sworn in today in a ceremony at the Oregon State Capitol in the Senate Chambers. Oregon Kid Governor Lanenga is a fifth grader at Riverdale Grade School in Portland. She is the 8th Oregon Kid Governor. Her platform is addressing climate change and her campaign video can be viewed here.
“In my one year term I will try to raise awareness about how climate change is affecting our communities and how to help by learning how to compost, sharing knowledge about climate change with others, and trying to think of big or small things that would help protect our communities from many of the effects of climate changes,” said Kid Governor Lanenga in her inauguration speech.
Fifth graders from across Oregon participated in the 2025 Oregon Kid Governor election and elected Kid Governor Lanenga in November for a one-year term. Governor Lanenga will be joined by an impressive cabinet, who were also sworn in today:
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Desmond Bennett, Bullying, Springville Elementary School in Portland.
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Jordyn Mouton, Raising Awareness Against Discrimination and Racism, John Wetten Elementary in Gladstone.
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Ryker Yun, Helping Families in Poverty, Bonny Slope Elementary in Beaverton.
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Saanvi Shah, Reducing Homelessness and Providing Basic Amenities to the Unhoused, Paul L. Patterson Elementary School in Hillsboro.
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Syon Bhendigeri, Preventing Mental Illness, Jacob Wismer Elementary School in Portland.
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Teegan Wright, Inclusion in Team Sports Helps Traumatized Children, Rosland Elementary School in LaPine.
Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read hosted the ceremony and delivered remarks congratulating Kid Governor Lanenga and her cabinet members.
“In recent years, a lot of adults have gotten worried about the direction our world is heading in. I think a lot of people feel like our problems are bigger than our solutions,” said Secretary Read. “Today, I hope Oregonians across the state see we have bright, hopeful solutions for our future and impressive young leaders ready to fight for that future.”
The newly sworn in Oregon Kid Governor was also joined today by Oregon Kid Governor Zoya Shah and a representative for Senate President Rob Wagner. Former Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court Paul De Muniz delivered the oaths of office.
The Kid Governor program was started by the Connecticut Democracy Center in 2015 as a way of introducing Civics Education to fifth graders. The Late-Secretary of State Dennis Richardson brought the program to Oregon in 2018. Kid Governor continues to be administered by the Oregon Secretary of State’s office. Over 3,500 Oregon fifth graders in more than 130 classrooms participate in the program this year.
Watch a replay of the 2025 Oregon Kid Governor inauguration: http://or.kidgovernor.org/inauguration.
Learn more about Kid Governor Lanenga and her platform, as well as the cabinet who will be serving with her in the year ahead, here: http://or.kidgovernor.org/
If you would like to request an interview with the Oregon Kid Governor or any cabinet members, please contact Nikki Fisher at Nikki.Fisher@OR.KidGovernor.org. For Kid Governor Lanenga’s media kit: https://sos.oregon.gov/Pages/media-kits.aspx.
If you are interested in an interview with Secretary of State Tobias Read, please contact Tess Seger at Tess.Seger@SOS.Oregon.gov.
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