With a group of seventh-graders presenting in front of State House members, it wasn’t the students who were nervous.

“I was shaking like a leaf the entire time,” said Lurgio seventh-grade teacher Jen Wells. “They were much more calm and relaxed and I was very nervous. I wasn’t even presenting, but I was concerned for them.”

Wells has been the driving faculty member that has been involved in the lengthy process of having the Chinook become the New Hampshire state dog, although it has been the students who have worked to bring the idea in front of state politicians.

The presentation to the House was one of the final steps in the process, which could be completed by the first week in May.

Prior to reaching the House floor, the proposal unanimously passed the Senate, something state Rep. Jayne Spaulding said is an accomplishment on its own.

“I think it’s wonderful. They did this completely on their own,” said Spaulding. “They did the research and learned how the procedure works and they are extremely impressive at public speaking. They’re learning first-hand how the government works.”

Wells and other Lurgio educators have used the process to form lesson plans in various courses, like learning public speaking in language arts class or about DNA in science.

Ideally, the final decision will come in the first week of May so the entire seventh grade can make a field trip to be on hand for the result.

Overall, the idea has been well received in Concord. Spaulding said one Chinook breeder brought a dog to the session, and the animal “stole the show.”

Regardless of the end vote on the topic, Wells said her students have already learned lessons they can apply as they get older.

“I am hoping they now understand the process,” said Wells. “They can see that in order to get the result it requires perseverance. They can make a change. Whether it is a bill or a job interview, or anything else they’d like to do with their lives.”

Wells and the Lurgio students put in a request that if the bill passes, Governor Lynch makes the trip to Bedford to sign it and meet the students involved.

Spaulding is optimistic entering the final weeks of the project.

“I have a good feeling that it is going to pass,” said Spaulding, who has been impressed by the student initiative. “They’ve driven this. We are just the mechanism to get it through the state house.”