Teens Take a Direct Role in Politics

For those who question the involvement of teenagers in the political process, consider 45 Valley high school students who serve on Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg’s (D-Sherman Oaks) San Fernando Valley High School Advisory Commission.

Now in its third year, the panel of students advises Hertzberg on issues that affect the teens directly, such as the San Fernando Valley’s proposed break from the Los Angeles Unified School District, and school overcrowding. The students also review bills, debate pending legislation and provide written analyses for Hertzberg.

This year’s new class of would-be politicos--which held its inaugural meeting last week--have a tough act to follow.

Last year the commission helped develop Assembly Bill 2553, which would provide grants and other incentives for school districts statewide to recycle. The bill is awaiting Gov. Gray Davis’ signature.

“These kids aren’t just sitting around,” said Eddie Shiomi, commission advisor and Hertzberg assistant. “They are interfacing with government and making a difference.”

Students met by subcommittee last week in a round-table session to discuss issues such as creating a high school essay contest on diversity for Valley students, assisting Habitat for Humanity in building a house for a low-income Valley resident, starting community cleanup days and encouraging public and private schools to work together.

“There is such a discrepancy between the two [public and private schools],” said Jane Lee, 17, a Granada Hills High School senior who co-chairs the commission.

Jane, who lives in Northridge, is serving her second year.

“When I first joined the commission [last year], I wasn’t that familiar with politics,” she said. “Now I’ve gotten to do incredibly amazing things.”

She said that included lobbying state senators last year on the recycling bill.

The commission and its subcommittees each meet for two hours a month. Students are selected for the commission based on a rigorous application process that includes an essay, an interview and a series of question-and-answer drills.

Students from the following high schools serve on this year’s commission: Birmingham, Van Nuys; Buckley, Sherman Oaks; Canoga Park; Chaminade College Preparatory, West Hills; Chatsworth; Cleveland, Reseda; El Camino Real, Woodland Hills; Granada Hills, Grant, Valley Glen; Harvard-Westlake, North Hollywood; Louisville, Woodland Hills; Monroe, North Hills, North Hollywood; Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks; Reseda; Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies, Reseda, and Taft, Woodland Hills.

“It’s an incredible dynamic when you get all the kids together,” Shiomi said.

Applications for next year’s commission will be accepted in the spring. Final selections are announced in June.

KUDOS

Merit Scholars: Sixteen students in the senior class at North Hollywood High School have been named 2001 National Merit Semifinalists for exceptional performance on the PSAT (preliminary SAT).

Congratulations to Daniel Bersohn, Nathaniel Chapman, Christine Chung, Jared Fleisher, Yael Kisel, Michael Nagle, Anna North, Jeanne Shen, Yevgenya Shevtsov, Danielle Shin, Stephanie Skoboloff, Natalie Stein, Nathan Stern, Jeffrey Tan, Nicole Weston and Jeffrey Zira.

Float Designer: Leticia Orozco, a 12-year-old from Mulholland Middle School in Van Nuys, will be riding a float of her own design at the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day.

The Reseda resident’s design, “Multiple Cultures,” beat out 11 other finalists from Los Angeles County for the grand prize in the International House of Pancakes’ 11th annual “Dream Up Our Float” contest. The competition sponsored by the Glendale-based restaurant chain is open to children ages 6 to 12.

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