High School Leaders

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

The Sorensen Institute's Youth Programs were the subject of a recent episode of HearSay with Cathy Lewis on WHRO in Hampton Roads.

Guests included Amy Richardson of Virginia21, a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2007, and Marc Johnson, Director of Sorensen's Youth Programs and a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2003.

This is a fantastic conversation that explores the mission and impact of the Sorensen Institute. Enjoy!

The Sorensen Institute received a record 127 applications for our 2008 High School and College Leaders Programs. We received applications for both programs from every region in the Commonwealth.

Throughout the month of March, staff and Regional Board members will conduct personal interviews with applicants. Classes will be announced in April.

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.

This is the last week to apply for the 2008 season of the Sorensen Institute's youth programs.

Click here for information and a link to the application for our College  Leaders Program.

And click here for the details and application for our High School Leaders Program.

Both programs take place on grounds at the University of Virginia this coming summer.

The deadiine is March 2. Spread the word! Apply now!

The Sorensen Institute today announced its 2008 Youth Program Managers: Jamie Lockhart, a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2007, and Curtis Walton, a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2006.

Our Youth Program Managers provide critical leadership roles in the success of both the College and High School Leaders Program. The Managers assist staff in numerous ways and offer valuable guidance to class participants. The Sorensen Institute selects its Program Managers from among the alumni of our College Leaders Program, and it has become an honor in itself to serve the Sorensen mission in this way. We are very proud that Jamie and Curtis will be joining us this summer.

Jamie Lockhart, CLP 2007, from Midlothian. She will graduate from James Madison University this spring with a degree in Political Science and minors in Nonprofit Studies and Political Communications. Jamie has been Valley Region Chair and VP of Membership for the Virginia Young Democrats.  She served as a Senator in the JMU student government, as an Orientation Program Assistant, and as a Resident Advisor.
 

Curtis Walton, CLP 2006, from Portsmouth. Curtis will graduate from Old Dominion University this spring with degrees in Political Science and Economics. He has served as Vice President of the Student Body at ODU and as a Peer Advisors. Curtis has also interned during the General Assembly's 2007 and 2008 sessions with Senators Ken Stolle and Harry Blevins.

Sean O'Brien, Barbara Fried, and Paul Harris at the UVA Rotunda, 7.21.07

Chairman of the State Board and a major supporter of the Sorensen Institute, Barbara Fried, spoke briefly at the HSLP 2007 graduation and delivered these concluding remarks.

Director of Youth Programs, Marc Johnson, bid a fond farewell to the members of the HSLP Class of 2007 with these remarks.

Sorensen State Board member and former Virginia Delegate Paul Harris was the keynote commencement speaker on Saturday, July 21 at the HSLP 2007 graduation.

       
            Nilam Patel                                       Erick Rison

Marc Johnson presented the Spirit of Citizenship Award to two members of the High School Leaders Program Class of 2007: Erik Rison of Patrick Henry High and  Nilam Patel of Hidden Valley High.

Colin Hood (left) of Colonial Heights High was selected by his fellow students to deliver the Class Address. He was introduced by Sorensen's Director of Youth Programs, Marc Johnson.