December 12, 2006
State Superintendent Jack O'Connell Selects Exemplary High
School Students for 2007 U.S. Senate Youth Program
SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell announced today that two remarkable California high school students have been chosen as delegates to the prestigious and highly competitive U.S. Senate Youth Program.
Isabelle Masters Cohen, a senior at Branson School in San Rafael, Marin County, and Jonathan Michael Padilla, a senior at Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, Santa Clara County, were chosen from more than 140 applicants based on their scholastic achievement, leadership qualities, extra-curricular activities, and service to the community.
"These two talented and hardworking young people excel in so many different areas," O’Connell said. "Isabelle has a wide range of interests and accomplishments that will allow her to pursue a number of possible career paths. Jonathan is an accomplished orator and debater with a strong interest in politics, a combination that will serve him well in the future."
Selected to serve as alternates in case either delegate cannot participate in the program are Nairi Hartooni, a senior at Herbert Hoover High School in Glendale, Los Angeles County, and Henry Thanh Luu, a senior at Alhambra High School in Alhambra, Los Angeles County.
A short biography of each of the four students is attached. The link to their photos is at Year 2006 - Video.
The delegates will participate in a week of intensive study of the federal government as guests of the U.S. Senate from March 3-10, 2007, in Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Senate Youth Program is an annual scholarship competition funded by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation and endorsed by the U.S. Senate. Each state and the District of Columbia select two high school juniors or seniors to participate in the program. The Foundation pays all expenses for the delegates, including transportation, hotel, and meals. In addition, each of the delegates will receive a $5,000 college scholarship from the Foundation.
The students will personally experience their national government in action, hear major policy addresses by senators, cabinet members, and officials from federal agencies, as well as participate in a meeting with a U.S. Supreme Court justice.
Students must be nominated by their high school principal to participate in the program. A selection committee from the California Department of Education reviewed eligible nominees who submitted the required paperwork. After a rigorous review process, O’Connell selected the awardees based on the following criteria: the quality of the application, high academic achievement, excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to speak well, knowledge of American government and U.S. history, involvement in school and community activities, and demonstrated qualities of leadership.
The four students will be recognized by the State Board of Education during its meeting on January 10, 2007 in Sacramento. For more information on the program, please visit United States Senate Youth Program - Correspondence.
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Attachments
Delegate
Isabelle Masters Cohen
Isabelle Masters Cohen is a senior at the Branson School in San Rafael, Marin County, where she is the city’s student member of the San Rafael Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, the editor-in-chief of The Blazer school newspaper, and the co-captain of the school’s Mock Trial Club. She is also press secretary for the school’s Human Rights Club and a past editor of the Branson school literary magazine.
Isabelle’s many other activities include a current internship at the San Francisco District Attorney’s office and a past internship for the California Democratic Party. She has donated many hours worth of community service to a school peer tutoring service called "Making Waves," the National Charity League, and the Special Olympics.
Isabelle is a serious student with a grade point average of 3.97. She was recognized last year as an American Invitational Mathematics Examination participant, and as a recipient of a National Merit Scholarship Program Letter of Commendation. Isabelle also successfully competed in the 2006 Marin County Physics Olympics. She is proud of recently completing a physically demanding, seven-hour test to get her green-blue belt through the United Studies of Self Defense.
Isabelle plans to study political science at a four-year college and then attend law school. She would like become a lawyer and eventually work as either a politician or a diplomat.
Delegate
Jonathan Michael Padilla
Jonathan Michael Padilla is a senior at Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, Santa Clara County, where he is the school president’s student ambassador, the Congress team captain of the Speech and Debate Team, and the chapter debate director of the Junior Statesmen of America. Jonathan is also the chairperson of the regional Student Advisory Council for Rep. Mike Honda, D-San Jose.
Jonathan has put hundreds of hours into many school and extracurricular activities, especially those related to speech and debate. He is active in training other Bellarmine students in speech and debate techniques. He is busy with the Congressional Student Advisory Council’s mission of how to incorporate more community service into high school students’ education. Jonathan is politically active in the leadership of several political student groups at the school, state, and national levels, including president and co-founder of the California High School Democratic Caucus. He also has worked closely with the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council on a variety of campaigns, most recently with the Phil Angelides for Governor Campaign.
An excellent student with a grade point average of 4.0, Jonathan received an Outstanding Distinction this year from the National Forensic League for debate, the second highest level of distinction given to high school students from the league. He has twice been named a National Debate finalist and also has been a Congress Debate state finalist.
Jonathan plans to study either government or international political economy at Georgetown University in Washington D.C., where he studied International Relations last summer, before getting a master's degree in public policy and a jurist doctorate degree. He would like to volunteer in the AmeriCorps service program or for the Peace Corps as a teacher before embarking on a political career.
First Alternate
Nairi Hartooni
Nairi Hartooni is a senior at Herbert Hoover High School in Glendale, Los Angeles County, where she is president of the California Scholarship Federation, president of the Latin Club, and student advisor of the Future Business Leaders of America Club. Nairi is also a regional student representative for the American Cancer Society for Southern California.
Nairi is involved in a wide variety of activities, including volunteering for the Glendale Memorial Hospital Cancer Center and Cancer Registry. She has been the school team captain for two years for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, is a member of the high school orchestra, and directs the publicity for the school’s debate club.
Nairi is a dedicated student with a grade point average of 4.3 and has received school awards for Most Outstanding Junior in Business and for the Foreign Language Exam. She has received several National Latin Exam medals, including summa cum laude during her junior year, cum laude as a sophomore, and magna cum laude as a freshman. Nairi received the Society of Women Engineers Certificate for Highest Honor as a junior.
Nairi would like to major in chemistry and history at the University of Southern California. Her career goal is to become an oncologist and head a cancer research facility for low-income patients.
Second Alternate
Henry Thanh Luu
Henry Thanh Luu is a senior at Alhambra High School in Alhambra, Los Angeles County, where he is both the Associated Student Body Representative and co-editor-in-chief of The Moor school newspaper, which is in its 97th year. Henry is also the president of the school’s Junior Civitan Service International Club.
Henry has been active in a bio-medical/science research program at Alhambra High School for four years. He is one of only five students statewide that were selected to present their research at the American Association for the Advancement of Science at its annual convention in February 2007. He is a four-year member of the Math Engineering Science Achievement Academy, the Science Olympiad, and the Alhambra Unified School District’s Tri-City Orchestra violin section.
Henry is an excellent student with a grade point average of 4.29. He’s been honored with the Harvard Book Prize, an Outstanding Junior Academic Award, and National Merit Scholarship Semi-finalist Award. Henry holds two regional Science Olympiad Awards and two Math Engineering Science Achievement Medals.
Henry would like to attend a private, four-year university, and is contemplating his possible career choices.
