December 4, 2003
Two California High School Students are Chosen
as Delegates to the U.S. Senate Youth Program
SACRAMENTO — Following a highly competitive selection process, two remarkable California high school students have been chosen to represent the state as the 2003-04 delegates to the United States Senate Youth Program.
Selected for this prestigious honor are Anna Pauline Phillips, a senior at Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego, and Deena Saad Shakir, a senior at Leland High School in San Jose.
Chosen as first alternate is Paul Andrew Cilker, a senior at Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose. Second alternate is Steven Patrick Gerard Ostrowski, a senior at Anderson Union High School in Anderson, Shasta County.
Biographies of the four students are attached.
"These exceptional students represent some of the best and the brightest in California schools," said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell. "The range of their accomplishments at such a young age is not only impressive, but inspiring. They certainly are well on their way to becoming the nation's leaders of tomorrow."
Selected from more than 160 applicants statewide, Anna and Deena will be among 104 students from across the nation to visit Washington D.C., February 28 to March 6, 2004, where they will observe the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court, and the Pentagon, as well as tour the Smithsonian. The program is sponsored by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation and operates at no cost to the federal government. In addition to the Washington trip, the foundation awards each delegate a $5,000 scholarship.
Two delegates and two alternates from each state, the District of Columbia, and Department of Defense Dependents Schools are selected each year for their extraordinary high school accomplishments and leadership potential.
High school principals nominate one junior or senior student who exemplifies outstanding academic achievement and honors; participates in extracurricular school and community activities; has the ability to articulate on local, state, national, and world issues; and demonstrates leadership by serving as an elected student body or class officer, regional or state organization officer, or board of education student member.
The California delegates and alternates will be recognized by the State Board of Education during its January 7, 2004 meeting at California Department of Education headquarters in Sacramento.
For additional information on the program, please visit the organization's Web site at: Hearst Foundation [http://www.hearstfdn.org/ussyp/] (Outside Source).
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Attachment
California's 2003-04 Student Designees
United States Senate Youth Program
Delegate
Anna Pauline Phillips
Anna Pauline Phillips is a senior at Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego, where she is Senior Class President and has been a member of student government each of her four years. Her grade point average consistently exceeds 4.0, for which she has been given the Silver Star Award.
She is an intern for San Diego City Councilmember Brian Maienschein and has been an intern for the Anti-Defamation League and is a graduate of the League's Manhigim (Leadership) Institute.
Anna is a past treasurer, vice-president, and president of B'nai Brith Youth Organization of San Diego. She currently is the host of San Diego Student News, Channel 16, and is employed by Cold Stone Creamery. She has been involved in wrestling and runs track and field.
Last year, Anna lived and studied in Israel for more than four months. It was during this time the United States occupied Iraq and she was able to experience firsthand American politics from an international perspective.
Anna hopes to attend either Georgetown University or George Washington University, and major in International Relations.
Delegate
Deena Saad Shakir
Deena, a senior at Leland High School in San Jose, is Vice-President of the Student Council, and has held elected office for the past four years. She is also the student member for the San Jose Unified School District.
Deena is oratory president of the largest and highest ranked speech and debate team in the nation, captain of the Mock Trial Team, president of Amnesty International Student Group, and president of Interfaith Club. She founded the monthly editorial publication, Leland Leviathan, and as editor-in-chief, manages more than 40 contributing writers and a staff of 15.
An accomplished public speaker, Deena has won many national speech contests and is a member of the National Forensic League's prestigious "Circle of Champions."
Deena is a National Merit semi-finalist, and received the Principal's Award for Highest Honor Roll. She has received a Governor's Scholarship, the President's Service Award, and is an AP Scholar With Honor. She has been actively involved in several community service projects.
She would like to attend Harvard University, and is yet undecided on a major, but is considering working in diplomacy, public service, academia, or psychiatry.
First Alternate
Paul Andrew Cilker
Paul Andrew Cliker is a senior at Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, where he is Associated Student Body President, and previously was junior class representative. He is a member of the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation and is a member of the Principal's Honor Roll.
Paul competes on the varsity water polo team and has served as team chaplain, and he appeared in his school's spring musical.
Last year, he was nominated as his school's representative to Boys State, where he was a candidate for Governor. The event opened his eyes to the political arena and peaked his interest in becoming a public official.
In college, Paul plans to major in economics and political science before attending graduate school. He would like to run the family business, Pine Cone Lumber, for a few years before moving to Washington D.C. to open a lobbying firm and run for office.
Second Alternate
Steven Patrick Gerard Ostrowski
Steven is a senior at Anderson Union High School in Anderson, Shasta County. He is Senior Class Senator and has held several other student government posts. For the past two years, he has been the student representative to the Anderson City Council.
He has been on the Honor Roll for the past three years and was chosen as the Rotary's Outstanding Freshman of the Year in 2001. Steven is a James Irvine Foundation Educational Incentive Grant Recipient and also earned a California Legislature Assembly Certificate of Recognition, among other awards.
He has been a member of the football and wrestling teams and has participated in the school's marching, concert, orchestra, pep, and jazz bands, playing the alto saxophone. In 2001, he was named the Most Dedicated Band Member. He's has been president of the school's speech and debate team and is an accomplished public speaker. He took second place in 2003 in the Anderson High School Speech competition and for the last two years, he has been the first-place winner in the Lions Club speech contest.
Steven is active in his church, where he is a Sunday school aide and substitute teacher, and a Eucharist Minister.
He hopes to attend the University of California, Davis, or Santa Clara University, and major in political science and international relations before embarking on a career in politics.
