By Nancy Gutierrez
Raquel Serna, a student at Lindsay High School, will join a select group of students representing their school, community, and state as a people to people student leader.
Serna has been accepted into a People to People Future Leaders Summit on Law in Washington D.C. being held June 28-July 7.
"I'm really excited. I have a chance to go to Washington D.C.," Serna Said. "We get to visit the senate and we will be going to classes to learn about law."
All students accepted into a People to People program must meet rigorous academic and leadership requirements. Serna was nominated and accepted for the honor based on outstanding scholastic merit, civic involvement and leadership potential.
"She really excelled in my science class and was the only freshman I nominated out of all of my classes," Serna's teacher Daniel Dutto said. "She'll do well. She's a good person and student."
People to People's Future Leaders Summits on law, medicine and health care, or leadership bring together outstanding student leaders from across the United States to focus on leadership, team building, college admissions and professional aspirations.
Students can choose to build their courtroom skills, focus on how to enter the medical profession or work on an action plan to make a difference in their community. Students develop skills to help them lead tomorrow's world, while earning academic or service-learning credit. Serna said she is interested in law and is on the LHS Mock Trial team.
Each summit has a strong focus on college admissions. Students will have the opportunity to meet with admissions officers and gain valuable advice for navigating the college application process. In some locations, students will have the opportunity to tour several area universities. Dutto said Serna will visit several law firms in the District and Georgetown.
"It will be good for her to see the world," Dutto said.
Participants also gain insights to guide their educational and professional careers. Through workshops, presentations, excursions and discussions, student leaders attain a clear advantage as they pursue and fine-tune their selected fields of interest. They prepare for community leadership as well, as they learn how to put their ideas into action to create a better world.
The program is coordinated by People to People Ambassador Programs to fulfill the vision President Dwight D. Eisenhower had for fostering work citizenship when he founded People to People during his presidency in 1956. For additional information visit www.futureleaderssummit.org.
