Almost 600 students descended on Norfolk High School Friday for Nebraska’s annual Student Council Convention.

"It's just kind of a fun and educational gathering for everybody across the state," Nebraska Association of Student Councils Co-Executive Director Kyrie Nehls said. 

At the conference, students hold state and district elections, attend meetings and get to hear from special guest speakers. Organizers say they hope the event gets to learn new ideas from someone with a different perspective.

"In my closing remarks speech, I told them to get out of their comfort zone and talk to new people, and experience the most of what they could today," NASC President Kyli Herbolscheimer said. "I'm really hoping they do that."

The host school plays a big role in putting the event together. Norfolk Student Council Secretary and Senior Class President Arleth Ramirez says she’s proud of the work the council and her put in to the event.

"It's kind of surreal," Rarmirez said. "I really didn't imagine it was going to be this big. I was excited to even begin doing it, but actually seeing it in the works, I don't know, I just feel like I'm in a dream right now." 

Over 30 schools were represented. Organizers say they hope the council members take the lessons learned and use them to improve their schools.

"Our goal for our state convention always is to unite the state," Nehls said. "We make it so everybody realizes that they're all in here for the same purpose: to make their schools better, to make their communities better and to make their state better."