BREAKING: Sorensen Announces 2008 Youth Program Members

BREAKING: The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership is very proud to announce the members of our 2008 College and High School Leaders Programs.

Competition to participate in this year's programs was particularly intense, with a record 127 applications received from communities across Virginia. We want to thank the members of our Regional Boards who volunteered their to help make the selections.

Marc Johnson is Director of Sorensen's Youth Programs. "This is an historic year for our College and High School Leaders Programs. We have never before received so many applications with this number of outstanding young leaders. These will be fantastic classes, and we are very much looking forward to getting started."

The College Leaders Program will run from May 31 to June 28. The High School Leaders Program runs from July 12 to July 26. Both groups will live and study on the grounds of the University of Virginia. Our Youth Programs were recently recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as national models.

The members of the Sorensen Institute's College Leaders Program Class of 2008 are:

Michael Billingsley, Dumfries, University of Virginia
Madison Busch, Doswell, University of Virginia
Laura Castro, Richmond, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Brookelynn Constant, Bealeton, Christopher Newport University
Bram Crowe-Getty, Amherst, Guilford College
Ronald D'Agostino, Vienna, George Mason University
MoniQue Drake, Richmond, Longwood University
Hunter Fairchild, Palmyra, Lynchburg College
Sarah Drabkin, Springfield, Old Dominion University
Anna Godlewski, Arlington, George Mason University
Benjamin Heath, Virginia Beach, Christopher Newport University
Lacey Howard, Spotsylvania, Christopher Newport University
Allison Hunn, Arlington, University of Virginia
Andrew Jennings, Hillsville, Hampden-Sydney College
LaThaniel Kirts, Portsmouth, Morehouse College
Jonna Knappenberger, Charlottesville, College of William and Mary
Anne Lojek, Chester, Sweet Briar College
Elizabeth Maloney, Vienna, Radford University
Jordan Miles, Dillwyn, Longwood University
Ameera Mistry, Colonial Heights, Virginia Polytechnic and State University
Melissa Molnar, Chesterfield, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Matthew Ogren, Ashland, Duke University
Matthew Reges, Clearbrook, The College of William & Mary
Joseph Riedel, Burke, Christopher Newport University
Benjamin Schultz, Winchester, College of William and Mary
Heather Shuttleworth, Alexandria, James Madison University
Soulmaz Taghavi, Midlothian, Virginia Commonwealth University
Adria Vanhoozier, Christiansburg, Virginia, University of Virginia
Dale Warfield, Portsmouth, VA, George Mason University
Torrey Williams III, Bumpass, Virginia, Bridgewater College
 

The members of the Sorensen Institute's High School Leaders Program Class of 2008 are:

Khadeeja Ashai, Yorktown, York High School
Mary Atkinson, Java, Chatham Hall
John Barber, Fork Union, Fluvanna County High School
Sonora Braun, Roanoke, Patrick Henry High School
Maribel Castaneda, Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg High School
Mitchell Caudill, Midlothian, Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School
Joi Crenshaw, Glen Allen, J.R. Tucker High School
Joshua Fleming, Mount Jackson, Stonewall Jackson
Martina Hairston, Roanoke, Patrick Henry High School
Colin Harris, Marshall, Sidwell Friends School
Sirisha Iruvanti, Yorktown, Tabb High School
Helen Jones, Danville, Chatham Hall
Michelle Kinzer, Springfield, Annandale High School
Emily Marshall, Richmond, Douglas Southall Freeman HS
Richard Murphy, Chesapeake, Norfolk Academy
Nathalie Navarrete, Alexandria, T.C. Williams
David Newill-Smith, Midlothian, Math and Science School at Clover Hill High School
James Paulose, Fredericksburg, James Monroe High School
Kimberly Quick, Chesterfield, Maggie L. Walker Governor's School
Jonathan Riegel, Glasgow, Rockbridge County High School
Benjamin Ries, Roanoke, Patrick Henry High School/Roanoke Valley Governor's School for Science and Technology
McCullough Roach, Amarillo, Texas, Woodberry Forest School
Caitlin Saloka, Forest, Jefferson Forest High School
Bisma Sheikh, Boyce, Clarke County High School
Ladi Smith, Charlottesville, Saint Anne's Belfield
Trent Smith, Williamsburg, Lafayette High School
Christina Solebello, Louisa, Louisa County High School
James Underhill, McLean, Langley High School
Andrew Werner, Norfolk, Norfolk Academy
Amber Wiley-Vawter, Blacksburg, Floyd County High School
Kevin Xiao, Glen Allen, Maggie L. Walker Governor's School
Emma Yackso, Charlottesville, Charlottesville High School