Local teen to meet with leaders in DC

Christopher Lee of Northern Marianas Academy has been selected to participate in the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington D.C. from Nov.10 to Nov. 21.

NYLC is a unique leadership development program for high school students who have demonstrated leadership potential and scholastic merit. Lee will be one of approximately 400 outstanding scholars from around the country at the conference.

The theme of NYLC is “The Leaders of Tomorrow Meeting the Leaders of Today.” Throughout six days, Lee will interact with a variety of people who operate within the three branches of government, 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 Christopher Lee because they are the face of our country’s future,” said Mike Lasday, executive director of the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, the organization that sponsors 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.”

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 members to discuss important issues facing the nation.

To complement the schedule of special meeting and briefings, Lee will also 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. Students also participate 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.

CYLC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organizations, Founded in 1985, the council is committed to fostering and inspiring young people to achieve their full potential. More than 400 members of the U.S. Congress join this commitment by serving on the CYLC Honorary Congressional Board of Advisors. In addition, more than 400 embassies participate in the council’s Honorary Board of Embassies.

For additional information, visit http://www.cylc.org.