Congratulations to Berkeley High senior Cole McCann-Phillips, who’s been selected as one of two delegates statewide to represent California in the 2018 U.S. Senate Youth Program.
The selection was announced Dec. 13 by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson. The state’s other delegate is Mackenzie Hawkins, a senior at Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton.
“I applaud these amazing students who have demonstrated remarkable leadership skills and serve their schools and communities with passion,” Torlakson said in a news release. “They will represent California well during Washington Week and I know they will achieve great things due to their commitment to public service and their desire to make this world a better place. They make me optimistic for our future.”
The state’s delegates are chosen by the California Department of Education. Delegates receive a $10,000 scholarship and attend a one-week all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. on March 3–10, 2018. The program is designed to provide a deeper understanding of the federal government’s legislative, judicial and executive branches.
A short bio of the Berkeley High senior was provided in Superintendent Torlakson’s release:
“Cole McCann-Phillips of Berkeley (Alameda County), is a senior at Berkeley High School in the Berkeley Unified School District. He serves as a Governmental Affairs Policy Director for the California Association of Student Councils (CSAC), sits on the Berkeley High School Site Council, and Student Senate. As President of his school’s speech and debate team, he has helped improved the team’s ranking from 71st to 14th in the nation. His extracurricular activities include Student Advisor to the California State Legislature; Student Advisor to the State Board of Education in 2016, and intern for the Tony Thurmond for State Superintendent of Public Instruction campaign. He hopes to attend Brown University, majoring in political science and public policy followed by law school and a career as a federal prosecutor. But he says no matter what his career path, his future shall include social and political advocacy.”