Governor Doug Ducey ceremonially signs Senate Bill 1441 on May 1, 2015. The bill was spearheaded by Copper Creek Elementary students and made into law during the regular legislative session. Listen:
Gov. Doug Ducey made a stop in Oro Valley Friday to visit what may be some of Arizona’s youngest unofficial lawmakers.
Students at Copper Creek Elementary School spearheaded a movement to make copper Arizona’s official state metal, and it was passed and signed this year.
Alex Stark, 11, was one of the original students to help spearhead the copper bill.
“In all serious, you’ve accomplished something most people will never accomplish," Ducey told students seated in the school's library. "You’ve created a law. You’ve made Arizona history and you’ll always be remembered for it."
Ducey told students it was an easy decision to sign the bill because it was bipartisan and not many of those reach his desk.
Alex Stark was in 4th grade at the Amphitheater District school when the effort started three years ago. He and his classmates were studying Arizona’s 5 Cs, cattle, citrus, cotton, climate and copper.
"All the other states have like a state popcorn and things, so we were thinking why not make a state symbol for Arizona?" Stark said.
Arizona has several official items including the state neckwear – the bolo tie – and state mammal – the ringtail.
Encouraged by their teacher, Jennifer Royer, the students wrote letters and reached out to state senators to craft the bill. They worked with former state Sen. Al Melvin and later Sen. Steve Smith. Half-a-dozen students spoke to the Senate Natural Resource's Committee on the bill's behalf.
Alex Stark, now in the 5th grade, said he learned a lot from the experience, including persuasive letter writing and public speaking.
“It took forever, but it’s finally here," he said.
Copper on display at Copper Creek Elementary. 
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