Westchester County Executive George Latimer congratulated 10 local high school students who completed the Westchester County Government’s Summer Volunteer Fellowship Program. The program provides eligible high school and college students with the opportunity to gain professional experience, build leadership skills, work closely with experienced staffers and learn about County government.
Latimer said: “These students are our future leaders and we want to provide a foundation for them, right here in Westchester County, so they can begin to explore the opportunities available in local government. We want to show them how they can be instrumental in creating a better society by giving them a deeper understanding of how County government works.”
Assistant Director of Intergovernmental Relations Copernicus Crane, who crafted the program said: “These high school students were mature, accountable, and intelligent. They displayed unique critical thinking and leadership skills and their work product was thorough and expansive despite the often advanced topics they were expected to research. We were lucky to have them, and I wish them the best as they move forward in their endeavors.”
The fellows volunteered for roughly four to six weeks as part of senior alternative programs from five different Westchester high schools. Fellows researched County-wide issues, drafted executive summaries, assisted in facilitating and promoting community events and otherwise supported day-to-day operations.
This group of fellows worked to facilitate the County’s community health Survey in New Rochelle and White Plains, facilitated the 2022 Pride Flag Raising by organizing and coordinating dozens of high school organizations, and researched a wide variety of issues, including housing and the mobility of low income and homeless/formerly homeless populations. They also learned about County operations by touring the Material Recovery Facility, The Yonkers and Port Chester Wastewater Treatment Plants, Ward Pound Ridge, Hilltop Hanover, CompostED, and the County Archives.
This year’s graduating high school fellowship class included:
- Jackson Lawrence of Fox Lane High School
- Justin Solis of Mamaroneck High School
- Emily Guzman of Rye Neck High School
- Luke Lepore of Rye High School
- Rafay Syed of Rye High School
- Phillip Buettner of Rye Neck High School
- Ashley Monahan of Rye Neck High School
- Linus Ringstad of Rye Neck High School
- Aria Curtis of Tuckahoe High School
- Papa Sanaah-Faried of Tuckahoe High School