By Michael YEGHIAYAN

Congressman Adam Schiff met on Capitol Hill with a number of local high school students who have been selected to participate in the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, DC.

Kevin Lentz from La Crescenta, Markar Agakanian from La Cañada Flintridge, Argeen Ghazarian from Glendale and Kayla Guzman from Los Angeles attended the conference, which is designed to promote leadership and democracy among high achieving students across the country.

Exceptional high school students are nominated by educators and mentors with final candidates chosen by the NYLC. Schiff meets with the selected students from his district each summer to discuss his duties in Congress and engage with the students directly.

“One of the best parts of this job is meeting students and young leaders committed to public service and improving their communities,” said Schiff. “These students were selected to come to Washington, DC and participate in the National Young Leaders Conference from their high schools.”

The NYLC is a part of the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, an educational organization that was founded in 1985. The conference is designed to give “high-achieving high school sophomores, juniors and seniors a greater understanding of their roles in democracy and the responsibilities of leadership.”

Speakers at the conference include former and current congressmen, who engage the students on the floor of the House of Representatives. Attendees are also given the opportunity to meet various Washington insiders who offer insight into the day-to-day workings of the federal government.

The students also participate in workshops that promote critical thinking on important, modern civic issues.

“Through the NYLC, Markar, Argeen, Kevin and Kayla were able to come meet with me in the Capitol, hear about what we were voting on that day and ask me some questions about what it’s like to be a Congressman,” said Schiff. “It’s my hope that they continue having a wonderful experience in DC at the conference, and possibly come back to intern in my office once they’re in college!”

  MICHAEL YEGHIAYAN