Youth Programs

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 Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has released a new book—Educating for Democracy: Preparing Undergraduates for Responsible Political Engagement—which will be of great interest to Sorensen alumni and friends. This ground-breaking publication reports the results of a national study of "educational practices at the college level that prepare students for responsible democratic participation."

The Sorensen Institute's Youth Programs are featured quite prominently in the report and described as among the most effective in the nation. In its search for best practices in the education of young people about democracy, the Carnegie Foundation has identified the Sorensen Institute as demonstrating an exemplary approach worthy of emulation. When it comes to giving young people the skills and motivation to become politically engaged, the Sorensen Institute has become something of a national model.

"This is truly exciting news," said Marc Johnson, Director of Sorensen's Youth Programs and himself a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2003. "It is a tremendous honor to have this recognition and validation from the Carnegie Foundation. At its core, the results of the study confirm something that what we already know: Sorensen alumni are some of the most politically engaged and active citizens in the Commonwealth. They understand and take very seriously the responsibilities of citizenship in a free society. Graduates of the Sorensen Institute are not content to sit on the sidelines. These are people that step forward and demonstrate great commitment and leadership when it comes to civic life. We are very proud of them."

PODCAST: Marc Johnson and Greg Werkheiser, a member of the Sorensen Institute's State Advisory Board, were guests on "Charlottesville—Right Now! with Coy Barefoot" this afternoon to discuss the Carnegie Study.

We have been swamped with requests for more information about our College and High School Leaders Programs. We have attached to this post a PDF file with the latest, updated brochure about our youth programs. Click, open, enjoy!

Just a reminder: the deadline for apps to the summer 2007 youth programs is Sunday, February 25.

Click here to apply online.

The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership
College Leaders Program and High School Leaders Program
Application Deadline: Sunday, February 25, 2007

The Sorensen Institute is pleased to announce that it is accepting applications for the College Leaders Program and High School Leaders Program, both summer civic-education and leadership training courses with a hands-on focus on Virginia Government and Politics.

These programs give students who are interested in public policy and politics in-depth classroom instruction and training in state and local government in Virginia.  Our students meet with all the key players, including elected officials, journalists, lobbyists, campaign strategists, and distinguished business and non-profit leaders.  In past years, students have talked policy with the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General, as well as many members of Congress and the Virginia General Assembly.

Our students learn how to make their voices heard through writing an op-ed, being interviewed on the radio and TV, briefing a legislator, researching and writing legislation, organizing a grassroots campaign, writing and delivering speeches, and carrying out successful political campaigns.

Students can earn college credit from the University of Virginia. For more information, click here to visit the Sorensen Institute web site. If you have any questions, please contact Marc Johnson, Director of Youth Programs, at (434) 982-4527 or rmjohnson@virginia.edu.

And you can click here to listen to a recent radio interview with Marc about the Youth Programs.

We recently brought you news that Sorensen's Youth Programs were the subject of a series of interviews on "Charlottesville Live" (NewsRadio 1070 WINA in Charlottesville). Well now we've got the complete audio from that program to share with you.

Go to the Permanent Link page below and you will find the audio files attached. For convenience, we have separated the program into two MP3 files. Track 01 is the first half of the show (about 16 minutes) and Track 02 is the second half. (about 20 minutes). Enjoy!

Radio producer Sean Tubbs of the Charlottesville Podcasting Network recently unveiled a story about the Sorensen Institute's High School and College Leaders Programs. The story was broadcast this week on WVTF, the NPR Station in Roanoke, and was heard throughout much of Southwest and Central Virginia.

Sean interviewed Marc Johnson, Director of Youth Programs, Ashely Boyd and Steven Jones (College Leaders Program Class of 2004), as well as Gabie Kalman and Elizabeth Fife (High School Leaders Program Class of 2005).

You can listen to the complete broadcast here. (Click on "MP3 Download")

The deadline for applications to our Youth Programs Class of 2006 is February 24. Contact Marc Johnson.

The Sorensen Institute is proud to announce publication of its new Youth Programs brochure which highlights our High School and College Leaders Programs.

The Sorensen's Youth Programs have rapidly become the national standard for youth leadership training and are being replicated in other states around the country. The programs are held each summer on the grounds of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. They are highly competitive, bringing together top student leaders from across the Commonwealth to study and discuss the history, structure and process of state and local government in Virginia.

The 2006 College Leaders Program runs from May 27 to June 24. The 2006 High School Leaders Program will run from July 8 to July 22. Each program hosts 30 students. Approximately 80 guests speakers—which includes current and former elected officials, business leaders, and non-profit executives—join the classes to share their experiences and field questions from an extremely intelligent and motivated group of young people.

Marc Johnson, Sorensen's Director of Youth Programs, is currently criss-crossing the state to meet with faculty, administrators, and student leaders from high schools, colleges, and universities. "We are anticipating another fantastic year in 2006," Johnson said today. "It is a true honor for all of us at the Sorensen Institute to host these remarkable young people each year. Their eagerness to learn about public policy and their commitment to making Virginia a better place is really encouraging."