Avon High Student Wins Top Honor At Special Harvard Event

AVON, CT — An Avon High School student earned the top individual honor at a national government simulation held at Harvard University.

Veera Gurusamy, a sophomore at AHS, represented Avon High School at the 41st annual Harvard Model Congress, held Feb. 19–22 in Boston.

The conference brings together thousands of high school students each year to participate in a simulated session of the U.S. government.

Gurusamy was assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee, where participants debated Social Security solvency and the Trump administration's tariff actions.

During the conference, Gurusamy co-authored two bills.

One proposed using Medicare premium incentives rather than tax incentives to advocate for means testing — the process of determining eligibility for financial assistance, public benefits, or legal relief based on income, assets, and expenses — as a way to protect Social Security’s solvency.

The second bill proposed creating an artificial intelligence model to predict the economic effects of tariffs in the United States and incorporating those projections into decisions about how legislation advances in Congress.

Both bills were presented in a full session of Congress at the 2026 conference. The Social Security proposal advanced to a full session of the Senate.

At the conclusion of the event, Gurusamy received the Best Delegate award in the House Ways and Means Committee, the highest individual distinction awarded in the committee.

Gurusamy was the only Avon High School student to receive an individual award at this year’s conference.

“The experience strengthened my understanding of public policy and furthered my interest in government and civic engagement, and was a highly rewarding experience,” Gurusamy said.

Gurusamy encouraged other students interested in policymaking and leadership to participate in similar programs.

As for his future, what he did in Boston last month is, basically, what he wants to do in his life.

Gurusamy said he wants to pursue a career in law.

"My long-term goal is to work in government or public service, advocating for justice and helping shape policies that create meaningful change in my community and beyond," he told Patch Monday morning.

For more information on the Harvard Model Congress program, click on this link.