Only 8% of the students who are nominated each year to win a full AFS Awards for Excellence Scholarship receive this prestigious merit, worth $10,000. St. Mary’s Academy Sophomore Amalia Centurion is one of that elite group of students this year.
“Amalia was judged on her outstanding academic achievement, community service, and leadership and we are not surprised that she excelled in every area,” says Principal Pat Barr. “Our school is very proud that AFS has recognized Amalia for the wonderful work she accomplishes.”
One of the areas of community service in which Centurion has excelled is on the Multnomah Youth Commission (MYC), a group of 40 youth who represent the greater Portland area. The group works on budgets for the city and county, prioritizing the items effecting youth and advocating for those during commissioner voting. They hold forums to educate the county youth about candidates and to take stances on events that are happening in the community.
Through the MYC, Centurion is a personal liaison to Commissioner Dan Salzman, communicating with him and his staff. “We are very impressed with Amalia and are happy to have her as our liaison to the MYC,” says Sheila Pepe, commissioner assistant. “From her first meeting with us, we’ve been impressed by her intelligence, dedication and motivation for the future.”
The MYC meets twice a month at the Portland City Hall and Centurion meets once a month with Commissioner Salzman to discuss the topics that come about from that group’s meetings.
The MYC is a diverse group of youth from around the County, coming together under a common goal: to make the voice of youth heard. They collect data from young people on key issues and translate it for policy makers so they can incorporate the views of young people into County decision-making. By developing policy, the group works to infuse the youth perspective at all levels; in government, schools, private organizations and more.
The AFS Awards for Excellence Scholarship Program allows students to participate in foreign exchange programs, and therefore, gives them an opportunity to build the skills necessary for succeeding in an increasingly global society in addition to forever changing how students view the world. The experience of living and learning abroad also helps prepare them for higher education.
Founded in 1859 by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, St. Mary’s Academy of Portland, is Oregon’s oldest continuously operating secondary school and one of 716 all-female schools in the country. The student body represents a diverse background of young women from over 30 urban, suburban, and rural communities in Oregon and Southwest Washington. St. Mary’s Academy is distinguished by its development of the whole person, and is the only school in the state to receive three U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools awards.
# # #
