ST. MARY’S STUDENT CHOSEN AS OREGON REPRESENTATIVE TO DC
After a day-long excursion to Salem, a five-minute extemporaneous speech, and a two hour test, St. Mary’s Academy Student Taylor Smith was chosen as one of two students who will represent Oregon at the 2008 U.S. Senate Youth Program (USSYP) Washington Week in Washington, D.C. Richie Day of South Salem High School will be the other student participant. The week-long program gives student representatives a first-hand chance to experience the legislative process and federal government.
Smith decided to enter the program because the requirements seemed to be ‘up her alley’. “I have become intrigued by politics during my high school career through my involvement with Model United Nations the past two years and also in government class,” says Smith. “Both of these allowed me to discover my love for debating and drafting resolutions on various issues throughout the world. I hope some day to be a journalist and involved in philanthropic work because this would be a great way to make my goals become a reality.”
“Taylor Smith istheperfect example of a young womanwho is committed to improving the community around her,” says St. Mary’s Principal Pat Barr. “Not only is she intelligent and motivated, Taylor also exhibits a great empathy for others. When she sees pain, she is the first toreact. She is an incredible individual.”
A St. Mary’s Academy ASB Board Officer, Smith founded Us Kids Need Help to raise funds for school supplies (over $7,000). She has been involved in various sports, organized events to discuss world poverty issues, is Co-Chair of Poverty Awareness Day, a School Ambassador, on LINK Crew, an Art Club Officer supporting local art events, a Model UN participant, an Encounter Retreat (spiritual) Leader, and the Captain of the Alpine Ski Team. Smith plans to study communications or journalism in college.
The student delegates will visit Capitol Hill, The White House, Pentagon, State Department, Supreme Court and other historic sites in Washington. They will meet with Senators, Cabinet officers, government leaders and policy-makers. Oregon delegate selection is administered by the Oregon Department of Education in cooperation with high school principals. A $5,000 scholarship is awarded to each of the delegates by the Hearst Foundation. The program was established in 1962 by a Senate Resolution. Since then, more than 4,600 students have participated in this unique leadership program.
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.
