O’NEALS – Minarets student and North Fork resident Crystal Piotrowski has been selected to serve as a National Scholar at the 2013 National Young Leaders Conference (NYLC) in Washington D.C. this summer.
She will join other outstanding high school students from across the United States as they take part in a unique leadership development conference in our nation’s capital.
During the 9-day program, the NYLC will provide scholars with the opportunity to interact with a variety of personnel who operate within the three branches of government, the news media and the international community.Crystal is a junior at Minarets High School where she has a 3.8 GPA. Crystal has been very active in the local community all her life and is the 2012 Loggers Jamboree Queen. For the past six years, she has performed over 100 hours per year of community service with various non-profit organizations.
At school, Crystal has participated on the Chawanakee District Mock Trial team, been involved in art, Tall Flags and FFA. She has also been very active in the youth bowling program at Sierra Lanes where she has been the high school league president for the past three years. Crystal plans on becoming an architect, so leadership skills will be useful.
“NYLC prepares students to serve our country well, whether that means as elected officials in our nation’s capital, as active members within communities around the world or as intelligent, creative and responsible members of the work force,” said Marguerite Regan, Ph.D., Dean of Academic Affairs for the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, the organization that sponsors the Conference.
“Through a series of simulations, we place these young leaders in the proverbial driver’s seat on a variety of issues facing our country today. Their determination, as shown within the Conference, is a good indicator of the types of leaders we will see in the future.”
Past highlights of this program have included welcoming remarks by a current or former member of Congress, made from the floor of the House of Representatives — a privilege that is seldom afforded to other groups.
Students have also had opportunities to interact with prominent members of the Washington press corps at the National Press Club, in addition to meeting with senators and representatives or appointed staff members to discuss important issues facing the nation.
To complement the schedule of special meetings and briefings, students will participate in a number of leadership skill-building activities and simulations. In one role-play activity titled If I Were President, students act as the president and Cabinet members responding to an international crisis.
The Conference culminates with the Model Congress, in which scholars assume the roles of U.S. Representatives and debate, amend, and vote on proposed mock legislation.
In order to attend the conference, Crystal needs to raise $3,500 to cover the costs of the program and transportation. Donations can be made via PayPal to Crystal.NYLC@gmail.com or those wishing to donate can mail checks to Crystal Piotrowski, P.O. Box 146, O’Neals, CA 93645. For more information call Michelle at 559-676-6776.
Great job.