Exceptional Students To Participate

In NYL Conference

Alicia Wolf and Daniel Gindraux, both seniors at Newtown High School, are among 400 outstanding students nationwide recently chosen to participate in the National Young Leaders Conference (NYLC) in Washington, D.C., from November 16 through November 21.

“In order to attend, we had to be nominated by one of our teachers,” explained Daniel. “I’m very excited!”

“It is definitely an excellent opportunity,” agreed Alicia. “It will no doubt be an experience to highlight when I prepare to apply for colleges [later] this year.”

NYLC is a unique leadership development program; this year’s theme, The Leaders of Tomorrow Meet the Leaders of Today, will give Alicia and Daniel the opportunity to interact with members of Congress, political appointees, and members of Washington’s press corps.

Highlights of past conferences have included welcoming remarks from the floor of the US 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 members to discuss important issues facing the nation.

To complement the schedule of special meeting and briefings, Alicia and Daniel will also participate in a number of leadership skill-building activities and simulations. On one role-play activity, If I were President, students act as the president and cabinet members responding to an international crisis. Students also participate in Testing the Constitution, in which they will examine actual Supreme Court cases. The conference culminates with Model Congress, in which scholars assume the roles of US Representatives and debate, amend, and vote on proposed mock legislation.

The Congressional Youth Leadership Council (CYLC), a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization, is the primary sponsor of NYLC.

For more information on NYLC, visit www.cylc.org.