High School Leaders

Director of Programs at the Sorensen Institute, April Auger, delivered the closing remarks at the High School Leaders 2010 graduation ceremony.

Youth Program Manager Ben Heath presented the HSLP 2010 Spirit of Citizenship Awards.

HSLP 2010's Logan Ferrell was selected by his classmates to speak at the graduation this past Saturday.

The High School Leaders Program Class of 2010 celebrated its graduation from the Sorensen Institute in the historic Dome Room of the University of Virginia Rotunda this past Saturday, July 24.

High School Leaders Program Class of 2010
Day 15-Saturday, July 24
Recorded by: Sarah Wooten, Woodbridge

Today as I rolled out of bed at 7:30, I realized that I was in a very confused mood. On the one hand, I was excited to see family and friends, to graduate and to know that I could carry on all the knowledge that I have gained in these precious two weeks with me in the future. I would be leaving with fond memories, wonderful friends, and a newfound appreciation for the University of Virginia. At the same time, I found it somewhat depressing. As I primped for the graduation ceremony and then proceeded to head out the front door with Allison, Maggie, Adam, Holly, and Nikki, we all reached a state of enlightenment, where we stopped and realized that this would our last time walking to The Corner together as students of the High School Leadership Program. If we were ever to come across one another again, the journey would be made as graduates, as alumni.

Once we had stopped by Bodos and Starbucks, we made our way over to the Rotunda where we met up with family and friends. After tripping and spilling my drink on the way into the building, I became aware that none of the friends I had made at Sorensen would be there to laugh at my clumsiness once I returned to Woodbridge. It was a melancholy moment, but there was no use crying over spilled raspberry seltzer; I had a graduation to attend.

The ceremony commenced with Mr. Bob “Bobbledore” Gibson and ended with Ms. April Auger. Each speaker did a phenomenal job; the ceremony was great. I was so glad that we had nominated Logan to speak for us and I was thrilled to see Dr. Palmer again; even though she had been tough on us when she was on the panel, her speech was awe inspiring, accompanied by an amazing slide show. I was a bit disappointed that I was the last person to get my diploma, I suppose I had secretly hoped that when Allison’s name was skipped, they were going to call her last. Still, I was thrilled to receive my diploma; it meant that I had made it, that I was officially an alumni of Sorensen.

My confused mood remained after the end of the ceremony. I was overjoyed to see my parents, but I was crushed that I would be leaving so many wonderful people behind. This experience really opened my eyes about my state, myself, and the world around me. At orientation, we had collected little, arbitrary, ice breaking facts about one another like “someone that has never had braces” or “someone that has lived outside of the United States”. After just fourteen days, I feel that I have gained a deeper understanding for every person that I have encountered at the high school leaders program. I want to thank everyone for contributing to this life changing experience and I hope that Sorensen had as much of an impact on everyone else as it had on me.

High School Leaders Program Class of 2010
Day 14-Friday, July 23
Recorded by: Adam Cohn, Richmond

It’s 8 o’clock in the morning. Game time. Countdown until project presentations: 2 hours. I quickly get dressed for my group’s final meeting before the presentations. I get there exactly on time, to find out that I’m the second person there. As usual, the group is running behind. Shocker. By the time that the entire group is together, it is just about time to depart Bice for the Rotunda. As I step outside of Bice, I am unpleasantly greeted by a wave of sweltering heat that would stay with me for the entire walk. Finally, I enter the Lawn at the opposite end of the Rotunda. With each step, I feel increasingly intelligent and confident as I approach Mr. Jefferson’s “Temple of Knowledge”, the Rotunda. Finally, I am at the base of the stairs that lead up to the main door. By this time, I am entirely confident that I will do well on the presentation.

Then I see the sign on the door that says to use the Lower Level entrance. There goes any and all confidence. I sadly walk back down the stairs and use the Lower entrance, which everyone else seemed to know about. Eventually I make it up to the Dome Room of the Rotunda and eagerly await the 10 o’clock hour. As the Chapel bell starts to toll ten times, Bob Gibson stands up to get the presentations underway. The panelists reviewing our projects introduce themselves. The panel consisted of Kelli Palmer, Assistant to the President of the University; Connie Jorgensen, former Legislative Assistant in the General Assembly; Bob Gibson, Executive Director of Sorensen; Marc Johnson, our first Professor; and Dr. Steve Bragaw; our second Professor.

The first group, Budget stands up, and the games begin. They presented a legislation that would make Public Safety exempt from budget cuts in order to ensure Virginians’ safety. That group was followed by the Education group, which was by far the best (because I was in it). Our policy made foreign language a core class that is to be taught from kindergarten. The Environment group’s proposal revolved around a user fee for plastic bags in order to encourage the purchase of reusable plastic bags. The fourth group was Immigration, and they mandated that employers use the E-Verify program to ensure that workers have a legal status in the US. The presentations were rounded off by the Transportation group, which proposed a cigarette tax where the refunds would be used to help to maintain Virginia’s roadways.

Soon after the final presentation, my fellow classmates and I excitedly left the Rotunda knowing that we had finished the program’s final requirement. Upon our return, we were greeted with hot pizzas from the Mellow Mushroom. After lunch, we were free for the afternoon to walk around campus and hang out. Promptly at 4:30, we were required to meet for the final time in Bice’s lobby to go out for dinner at Baja Bean, located on the Corner. Our group had the entire top floor, and enjoyed a fajita buffet for dinner. After everyone finished eating, Lauren, Lacey-Grey, April, Scott, and Ben presented the class superlatives, which we voted on the previous night. Some of the highlights included: Most Likely to Cause a Constitutional Crisis, Most Confident When Wrong, Next Director of Sorensen, and Next Governor. I won the “Best Sense of Humor” award.

From then on, we had the rest of the night to essentially do as we pleased. Many of us went to the Lawn with our new friends and reflected on the past two weeks, some began to pack, and others went to Arch’s to enjoy one last cup of ice cream. People are just now beginning to trickle back in from our last night of fun and friends and will most likely finish off the night by watching some Harry Potter and West Wing. Well, I am supposed to have this blog post done in approximately 4 minutes, so I shall choose my concluding words wisely. I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to attend Sorensen this summer. I have met a wonderful group of people that I know I will keep in touch with for a very long time. The lessons that I have learned are invaluable and will shape many of my decisions as I enter college and the professional world.
 

High School Leaders Program Class of 2010
Day 13-Thursday, July 22
Recorded by: Chelsea Stokes, Glen Allen

We confirmed a new philosophy today: Time is just a relative thing and according to Nicole, my suitemate, 8:30 is relative… so we can be relatively late. Fortunately, all the girls were ready and on time, but some guys took this statement to heart and were “relatively” late. The morning class was filled with discussion on public reasoning and the Law of Unattended Consequences. The real fun came late in the morning when we discarded our titles of students and took on the role of the General Assembly as we played THE BUDGET GAME!

Temporary Senators and Delegates faces became red, as the blood began boiling, and the anger started flowing, all of this over a game! Being confronted with a billion dollar deficit our morals, values and ideologies were truly tested. If we took two things away from this experience it would be the art of compromising and not being emotionally attached to the budget because at the end of the day we all needed to come together. As members of the House of Representatives, we debated closing all blind and deaf schools, cutting majority welfare and Medicaid services, releasing nonviolent criminals ninety days early, and most importantly the age old issue of raising taxes. So passionate were some members in the House of Delegates that they even signed a pledge swearing not to further raise taxes. In the end no group was happy as the Senate proposed a budget in over a billion dollar of revenue while the House of Representative cut programs and a compromise was unable to formalize.

We end the day in anticipation of tomorrow’s presentation- writing talking points, practicing public speaking, anticipating and answering questions thrown at us by the YPC’s. Our two week journey is coming to an end as a nervous angst spreads among us in preparation for Friday.

High School Leaders Program Class of 2010
Day 13-Thursday, July 22
Recorded by: Catherine Emblidge, Richmond

Today was our last day of classes and I can’t believe that it is already over, our two weeks have flown by. I woke up this morning to Nicole’s alarm going off at 7 o’ clock. As we lay in bed trying to wake up, Nicole and I listened to our morning wake up song and watched our fish, Aquarius. As we got ready for our day we couldn’t help but get sad that we only had two more days together. Soon after we rushed down stairs to walk to class.

When we got to class we sat down and started our discussion on decisions and unintended consequences and then we started the budget game. The budget game was a challenge where we divided into two groups, the house and the senate. In these groups we had the task of balancing the state budget. The budget game ended up taking the rest of the day as we debated tax increases and cuts in public spending causing somewhat of a heated debate. As the day wrapped up we walked home to Bice to start our meetings with our policy groups.
We all met with our groups preparing for our mock presentation. My group was a little behind so we ended up having to work through dinner. After presentations we all worked a little longer and then it was time for bed. My roommate Nicole and I convened as usual in our room to talk about the day and read our nightly prayer.