Petaluma Student 1 Of 2 CA Delegates For US Senate Youth Program

PETALUMA, CA — A Sonoma County student is one of two Bay Area high school seniors selected to represent the state of California as delegates in the 58th annual United States Senate Youth Program this spring, California Superintendent of Schools Tony Thurmond announced in a news release.

Violet Wang, a senior at Casa Grande High School in Petaluma, and Arushi Avachat, a senior at Foothill High School in Pleasanton, will be recognized by Thurmond next month at a State Board of Education meeting in Sacramento.

Each year, two students from each state, as well as the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity, are selected to participate in the program sponsored by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation.

Wang and Avachat will each receive a $10,000 scholarship as well as the opportunity to attend a one-week, all-expenses paid trip March 7-14 to Washington, D.C., for an in-depth view of the Senate and federal government.

Students cannot directly apply to the USSYP; they must be nominated by their high school principal to be considered and must be actively serving in an elected or appointed position at their schools to qualify.

"These students have demonstrated exceptional leadership," Thurmond said. "I am impressed and inspired by what they have already accomplished in their young lives. They have a strong passion for public service and activism and desire to make a difference in the lives of others. I am confident that they will make the most of this opportunity, continuing to make positive contributions, and be excellent representatives for California."

Wang is heavily involved with the community. She currently serves as co-chair of the Petaluma Regional Library Advisory Board, lead commissioner of the Petaluma Youth Arts Council and as a volunteer for Petaluma City Schools and Petaluma Valley Hospital.

Wang is considered a seasoned journalist who has experience as a broadcast anchor and print reporter. She has contributed to both her school and local newspapers.

Wang is also co-captain of Casa Grande High School's Academic Decathlon team and co-captain of the school's varsity girls swim team.

She hopes to study history and public policy on an Army ROTC scholarship, and aspires to serve her country as an officer in the U.S. Army. A strong social and political advocate, Violet wants to go to law school after active duty and hopes to either run for Congress or become a judge.

Avachat serves as vice-chair of the Pleasanton City Youth Commission and is founder and president of the Foothill Writers Group, a creative writing critique group at her school. Avachat is also involved with speech and debate, yearbook and choir. She is co-founder and co-president of Students for Social Change, a nonprofit dedicated to youth activism, and has interned for Alameda County Superior Court.

Avachat plans to major in English and political science and desires a future in activism and public service. In particular, she would like to pursue a legal career with a nonprofit such as the ACLU and continue her writing.

In the event Wang or Avachat are not able to attend the trip, Thurmond announced two alternates: Olivia Brooke Sally, a senior from Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, and Nathan Viotti, a senior from Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.