Matthew
Fullerton
Matthew
Fullerton of Coarsegold has been chosen to participate in the National
Young Leaders Conference (NYLC) in Washington, D.C. early this month.
A student at Yosemite High School, he is one of approximately 400
outstanding scholars from around the country at the conference.
The NLYC is a unique leadership development program for high school
students that have demonstrated leadership potential and scholastic
merit.
The theme of NYLC is “Leaders of Tomorrow Meeting the Leaders of
Today.” Throughout six days, Fullerton will interact with a variety
of personnel who operate within the three branches of government,
as well as the news media and the international community.
“We often hear from members of Congress, political appointees and
members of Washington’s press corps that it is a privilege to meet
and interact with students like Matthew Fullerton because they are
the face of our country’s future,” said Mike Lasday, executive director
of the Congressional Youth Leadership Council (CYLC), sponsoring
organization of the conference.
“What these students learn at the national Young Leaders Conference
will enable them to build coalitions with one another and exercise
their own leadership skills within communities around the country,”
he continued.
Highlights of past conferences have included welcoming remarks from
the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives and a panel discussion
with prominent journalists at the National Press Club, in addition
to meeting with senators and representatives or appointed staff
to discuss important issues facing the country.
To complement the schedule of special meetings and briefings, Fullerton
will participate in a number of leadership skill-building activities
and simulations. In one role-playing activity titled “If I Were
President,” students act as the president and cabinet members responding
to an international crisis.
Students also take part in “Testing the Constitution,” in which
they examine actual Supreme Court cases. 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.
The CYLC is a non-profit, nonpartisan educational organization.
Founded in 1985, the Council is committed to fostering and inspiring
young people to achieve their full leadership potential. More than
400 members of the U.S. Congress join this commitment by serving
on the CYLC Honorary Congressional Board of Advisers. In addition,
more than 40 embassies participate in the Council’s Honorary Board
of Embassies. Information: www.cylc.org.
Carmen
George
Carmen George, Yosemite High School sophomore, participated in the
annual Rotary District Speech Contest and took an Honorable Mention
in the finals held March 27 at California State University, Stanislaus
(CSUS).
The daughter of Todd and Helen George, she was sponsored by Oakhurst
Sierra Rotary.
After being selected by Yosemite High School to take part in the
annual Rotary Speech contest, she subsequently placed first at both
the club and area levels. For the third year, the finals were hosted
by Cal State.
Dr. Elsaree Murray of the Communications Department was again the
official host.
Ten high school speakers participated in this final contest. Each
had won a Rotary Club contest that was held in one of 50 Rotary
Clubs. From Oakhurst to Galt, from foothill communities in the Sonora
area to those on the West Side, Rotary Clubs held these contests
in mid-February.
Then the winners spoke off in early March area contests in Oakhurst,
Madera, Merced, Sonora, Gustine, Modesto, Stockton and Tracy. These
students won a total of $300 each in their previous two contests.
The first-place winner, Aaron Giampietro, a freshman at Los Banos
High School, sponsored by Los Banos Rotary, won $1,000.
He will speak at the annual Rotary 5220 District Conference at the
Nugget, Sparks, Nevada, on Saturday, April 17.
Daniel Petzold, a sophomore at Bear Creek High School, Stockton,
sponsored by the Lodi Rotary, took second place. A sophomore at
Beyer High School, Modesto, Rachel Seele, won third place.
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