December 2, 2004
Two Exceptional High School Students Will Represent
California in U.S. Senate Youth Program
SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced California's 2004-05 delegates to the prestigious and highly competitive U.S. Senate Youth Program.
Selected for this exceptional honor are Christian Alexander Osmena, a senior at Tesoro High School in Las Flores, Orange County, and Kaitlin Spak, a senior at Bear River High School in Grass Valley, Nevada County.
Chosen as first alternate is Hillary Chu, a senior at Lowell High School in San Francisco. Second alternate is Lakshmi Chirla Reddy, a senior at Irvine High School in Irvine.
Biographies of the four students are attached.
"I applaud the outstanding accomplishments of these shining stars in our public high school system. These students are today's leaders of their schools, and tomorrow's leaders of the nation," O'Connell said. "We should all be proud of their hard work that allowed them to excel in their studies, develop their talents, and to begin to realize their full potential."
Following a rigorous application progress, Christian and Kaitlin were selected from a pool of more than 180 California applicants who were distinguished by their leadership ability, academic achievement, communication skills, and community involvement.
The California delegates will be among 104 students, two from each state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Dependents Schools, who will attend a seminar in Washington D.C. from February 26 to March 5, 2005. The William Randolph Hearst Foundation pays all expenses for the stay, including transportation, hotel accommodations, and meals.
In addition, the Hearst Foundation awards each delegate a $5,000 college scholarship for undergraduate studies.
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 State Board of Education will recognize the California delegates and alternates during its January 2005 meeting at California Department of Education headquarters in Sacramento.
For additional information on the program, please visit the CDE U.S. Senate Youth Web site: United States Senate Youth Program.
# # #
California's 2004-05 Student Designees
United States Senate Youth Program
Delegate
Christian Alexander Osmena
Christian Alexander Osmena is a senior at Tesoro High School in Las Flores, Orange County , where he is senior class president, and the student advisor to the Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) Board of Trustees. He is a past sophomore class secretary and junior class vice president.
He is involved in many school and extra-curricular activities. Christian has been a member of the wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, or marching band all four years of high school. He is the news editor of The Tesoro Tribune, the student newspaper; an executive board member of the National Honor Society, and an executive mentor for the Ignite Freshman Mentoring Program.
He spends many hours involved in community service, volunteering at South County Safe Rides and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County.
An excellent student with a grade point average of 4.34, Christian has been on the CUSD Superintendent's Honor Roll, the Principal's Honor Roll, and is a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist. He has received achievement awards in math, science, history, and journalism. He has also received recognition on the Golden State Exam and is a Governor's Scholar.
Christian hopes to attend Stanford University , where he would like to pursue an undergraduate degree in political science, while continuing studies in other social sciences. He would like to move on to graduate school and to eventually hold public office, most likely in the area of educational policy.
"I am very passionate about education," Christian said, "and, more specifically, about public policy that affects and determines the way public schools are run."
Delegate
Kaitlin Spak
Kaitlin Spak is a senior at Bear River High School in Grass Valley, Nevada County, where she is senior class secretary, vice president for the Bear River Future Farmers of America (FFA), and secretary for the Sierra Buttes Section (FFA). She was elected an assemblywoman, then Speaker of the House, last summer at California Girls State.
Kaitlin plays second trumpet in her school's jazz band, and is also involved in a wide variety of other activities, including several school clubs. She is an active volunteer and over her high school career has donated hundreds of hours worth of community service to peer tutoring, animal fostering, and at such organizations as the Animal Shelter, Destination Imagination, Community Readers, Outreach Pen Pals, Resource Conservation, and Friday Night Live.
She is a dedicated student with a grade point average of 4.19 and is a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist. She was recognized last year at the State Champion FFA for her speech on bio-fuels, and the year before was named the most active FFA member and won the Star Chapter Farmer award. In her freshman year, Kaitlin took Overall Champion honor at the Motherlode Horse Show.
Kaitlin is applying to several colleges, including Stanford, which is her first choice, Harvard, and Yale. Her major is still undecided, although she is interested in the fields of political science and engineering and she is looking for a creative way to combine these interests.
"I am considering a career in business law or engineering, but my experiences at California Girls State also piqued my interest in the political field, specifically as a member of the Senate or the House," Kaitlin said.
First Alternate
Hillary Chu
Hillary Chu is a senior at Lowell High School in San Francisco, where she is Student Body Council Events Coordinator and Secretary. She is also the treasurer for her school's chapter of the California Scholarship Federation.
She has been a bassist in the Symphony Orchestra, the pit orchestra, and Inner City Young Musicians. Hillary has been a page for the House of Representatives, and is active in several school clubs.
Hillary has long been a volunteer for the West Portal Elementary School Parade and Performance Group, the San Francisco Arts Museum, and has donated many hours at the West Portal Daycare.
Hillary is an excellent student with a 3.93 grade point average and is a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist. She is on the Asian/Pacific Islander honor roll. Last year, she received a "superior" rating, the highest-level musicianship award for solo/ensemble by the Association of Instructors of Music.
She is applying to Harvard, and if she is not accepted, she plans on attending a women's college or the University of California. She is considering a career in filmmaking and education.
"As a product of public schools, I have had vast opportunities to observe San Francisco Unified School District 's systems and policies and understand its weaknesses and merits," Hillary said. "We need to advance education by demanding higher standards."
Second Alternate
Lakshmi Chirla Reddy
Lakshmi Chirla Reddy is a senior at Irvine High School in Irvine where she is the Associated Student Body's Commissioner of Community Service, and is the President and past vice-president of the Girl Scouts. She also has been the membership secretary and literary magazine editor for her school's chapter of the California Scholarship Federation.
She is also the benefit concert coordinator and student leader of Students for Social Responsibility and an ambassador to France, Germany, Switzerland, and Spain for People to People.
Lakshmi has donated hundreds of hours to the Girl Scouts as a volunteer and is also a volunteer for Students for Social Responsibility. She has been nominated to become a board member for the Irvine Sister Cities Foundation.
Lakshmi is an outstanding student with a 4.22 grade point average and is in the top 2 percent of her class. She is on the Principal's Honor Roll. She has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting, and has earned five Heritage Awards in A.P. English, A.P. Biology, A.P. Art History, A.P. European History, and Honors Spanish.
She has been given two Spur Awards, which exemplifies ethical values. She was designated the Youth of the Month by the Sunrise Exchange Club and was a semi-finalist in the Ayn Rand Essay Contest.
Her goal is to pursue a career in business management. She would like to attend Stanford and study economics and international studies.
"I believe a true democracy is one that represents the people by experiencing what the people experience and, therefore, understanding the mindset of the citizens," said Lakshmi. "This common understanding would result in a better local government that caters to the wishes of the people it governs."
