Two Oklahoma City High School students from each of the eight City Council wards, plus two at-large members are appointed to six-month terms on the Youth Council of Oklahoma City.
The 18 Council members learn about the challenges and successes of local government first-hand. They'll see how local government works and take part in addressing issues related to youth through meetings, seminars and more.
The program is cosponsored by the City and the Youth Leadership Exchange of Leadership Oklahoma City.
At large |
|
 Richard Beam Richard Beam, a member of the Putnam City High School Class of 2009, has assumed many leadership roles both on his campus and beyond. One of few underclassmen on PC’s student council, he recently ran for and was elected secretary for the coming year. A talented clarinetist, Richard is section leader of the Pirate Marching Band and a member of the concert and jazz bands. An Eagle Scout, Richard has also delivered mobile meals and volunteered for Project Transformation, an inner city literacy day camp…all the while maintaining a weighted GPA of 3.857. Richard cites teen pregnancy as an issue adversely affecting the youth of Oklahoma City. |
 Kyle Young A member of Harding Charter Preparatory High School’s Class of 2008, Kyle Young has been described as “curious, diligent, bright and personable” who has “proven to be a hard worker who dedicates himself fully to a project”. He is an avid, award-winning golfer and swimmer who is a member of his school’s Honor Roll and National Honor Society. For many years he has volunteered at Covenant Community Church’s AWANA Children’s Ministry, planning for a group of 50 children and leading the adults involved as well.” Additionally, Kyle has competed multiple times in readathons, reading competitions held as fundraisers. Kyle, who has a 3.94 GPA, is concerned about the enormous pressure today’s youth face to start smoking.
|
Ward 1 |
|
 Brian Daly Imagine an honor student who plays and coaches basketball, organizes marathons as fundraisers, arranges Halloween Carnivals for special needs children, and bakes pies, cakes and egg rolls for charity. That’s Brian Daly, Mount St. Mary Class of 2008.” President of his FCCLA (Family, Career, Community Leaders Association) chapter and a Star Events Winner at their District and Regional level, Brian is also founder of the Mount St. Mary Culinary Arts Association. He has been described as “charismatic,” “responsible” and “talented” with the “knowledge and insight that make him a natural conversationalist.”” Brian, who has maintained a 3.3 GPA, hopes to attend culinary school and open his own restaurant someday. He sees drugs, school violence and teen pregnancy as three issues facing the youth of Oklahoma City. |
 Cowuan McNeely A member of the Putnam City West Class of 2009, Cowuan has taken advantage of much his school has to offer. He is a member of the football team, the National Honor Society and the Multi-Cultural Society and serves as a Warrior Buddy. He has been named Panther of the Day and Student of the Week and he has been named to the Principal’s Honor Roll. His interests range from football to art and history, and he has maintained a GPA of 3.62. Cowuan says his tight-knit family and the excellent faculty and administration at PC West have prepared him well to serve on the Youth Council. A part of the Junior Deacon Ministry and Youth Leader in his church,
Cowuan sees more after-school activity as a solution to youth-committed
crime in Oklahoma City. |
Ward 2 |
|
 Katie Alsup Kathryn (Katie) Alsup, a member of the Class of 2009 at Northeast Academy, has served her school and her community in many different ways. Within her school, Katie has participated in National Honor Society, YMCA Youth in Government where she is an officer, Mu Alpha Theta math club, Future Business Professionals of America, the tennis team and the orchestra’s viola section. In the community, Katie volunteers in Norman’s First Presbyterian Church nursery. She sings in the Youth Choir and is a member of Youth Group. Katie has been described as “knowledgeable", “conscientious” and “compassionate” with a real concern for her local community and the global community beyond. Katie would like to see more voter education for teens. |
 Laura Nauman Described as creative, insightful and resourceful, Laura Nauman, a member of the Classen School of Advanced Studies Class of 2008, “is mature, responsible and self-motivated.” An accomplished photographer, Laura has won photography competitions and has had two photos selected for inclusion in Legacy Bank’s Centennial Calendar. In the community, she has volunteered at Omniplex Science Museum and at the Oklahoma Museum of Art where she has assisted instructors at various visual arts camps, including their video camp. At Classen, where she is a member of the National Honor Society, French Club, Art Club, and Yearbook Staff, she has received recognition for excellence in photography, videography, visual arts, French and chemistry. Laura feels that a diminished sense of community is a concern to residents of Ward 2. |
Ward 3 |
|
 Amanda Price Honest. Fun. Smart. Talented. A young woman who cares about the way things are and about the way people feel. All words used to describe Amanda Price, a member of Western Heights High School Class of 2009. At Western Heights Amanda has been involved in everything from French Club and Key Club to Mock Trial to Show Choir to the tennis team. In the community, she has volunteered at the Friends of the Library Book Sale and the Christian Service Center and entertained at Alterra Nursing Home. Amanda, who has a 3.37 overall GPA, is concerned about the number of teens who drop out of high school. She says she applied to Youth Council because it is time for her to do more in her community. |
 Karissa Young-Gibson Karissa Young-Gibson, a member of the Mustang High School Class of 2008, excels in the classroom, on the athletic field and in the community. She is a member of the Key Club, National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Spanish Club. She has volunteered in such diverse efforts as youth softball camps and the Shrine Circus and she has spent six years as a catcher for her competitive fastpitch softball player. Those who know Karissa see her as academically gifted, poised and diligent. Karissa, whose weighted GPA is a 4.15, is concerned about drug use and drug abuse among teens in Oklahoma City. Karissa feels her experience as a catcher has prepared her for a leadership role in Youth Council. |
Ward 4 |
|
 Cody Anderson Cody Anderson is ranked number one in the Class of 2009 at Carl Albert High School. Not content to excel only in the classroom, Cody (who has won the awards in science, Spanish, English and math) is a member and officer in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Key Club member, Student Council Executive Board member, a member of NHS and a Student Rotarian. He has also played soccer for his school and for a club team. Described as fun-loving, intelligent and involved, Cody sees premature sexual activity, alcohol abuse and domestic/family abuse as threats to teens in his area. Cody feels his experiences as a student council officer, team captain and Student Rotarian have qualified him to serve as a Youth Councilor.
|
 Madison Sandefer During her years at ASTEC (Advanced Science and Technology Education Center) Madison Sandefer has been busy. In addition to being class president and Student Council representative, she has been a member of the National Honor Society and a volunteer for SPAMM Week community fundraising events. At ASTEC, she has been recognized for her outstanding work in communications, English, physical science, algebra, world geography, geometry, chemistry, European history and programming. In the community, she has volunteered at the Myriad Gardens Crystal Bridge and Integris Southwest Medical Center. Madison is concerned about youth obesity and its affect on Oklahoma City young people.
|
Ward 5 |
|
 Amy Johnson A member of the Mount St. Mary Class of 2008, Amy Johnson has “a strong drive to always do well, a committed sense of right and wrong, a deep empathy for others and an unbounded source of energy to serve.” Amy is a member of National Honor Society, Student Council, Reps and Hosts, Yearbook, Key Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Choir. She is a member of St. James Catholic Church Youth Group, a varsity cheerleader, a class officer and has participated in competitive dance for 11 years. Amy has a cumulative GPA of 3.7. She is concerned
about the easy availability of alcohol to teens; the growing
threat of internet stalkers; and the need for improved teen nutrition. |
 Adam Wilkey “I believe that if you want to make a difference, you have to know the difference.” This is a quote from Adam Wilkey, rising senior at Mount St. Mary High School. Adam has made a difference at "The Mount" where he is a member of the soccer and football teams, and the honor roll. He has volunteered at his church as an altar server and coordinator of both food and blood drives. In the community he has volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, the Central Oklahoma Food Bank and Birth Choice. He plays in a Christian rock band, is a team leader at his job and has been a Boys State delegate. Adam is concerned about drugs in schools and gang violence in the community.
|
Ward 6 |
|
 Andrew Grimes Andrew Grimes, a member of the Capitol Hill High School Class of 2008, has been active in a number of diverse areas through his high school career. He is Youth and Government Lt. Governor for the State of Oklahoma, Vice-president of the Capitol Hill Film Society, Vice-president of Student Council, member of DECA, an international association of marketing education students, a Life Scout, a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a member of the German Club, a member of the Southwest Church of Christ Youth Group, a three year member of the varsity baseball team and manager of the girls’ soccer and volleyball teams. Andrew, who has a 3.18 GPA, cites gang violence,
drug and alcohol abuse and generational poverty as threats to young
people in Oklahoma City. |
 Caroline Parrish Caroline Parrish, a member of the Class of 2008 at Bishop McGuinness High School, has served her school and her community in many ways. She has lettered in varsity track, cross country and soccer; volunteered for Christ the King’s Feed the Hungry on Sundays; interned at the James L. Hall Center for Mind, Body & Spirit and the OMRF Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory; organized a Halloween party at Special Care of Oklahoma City; assisted at rehearsal for Kid’s Off Broadway children’s plays; played the piano at school mass; been a member of the Latin and Key Clubs; and paged for Senator Bernest Cain. Caroline has a weighted GPA of 4.2. Youth issues of concern to Caroline include coping with and resisting temptations and opportunities to engage in reckless behavior. |
Ward 7 |
|
 Ulyses Norman “A determined young man, who sets goals for himself, then sees them through.” A tireless worker.” “A silent leader.” A powerful leader who is willing to serve.” All words used to describe Ulyses Norman, a member of the Southeast High School Class of 2008. At Southeast, Ulyses has been a member of the Air Force JROTC program and the football team and active in speech and debate. In the community he has volunteered with the Lighthouse Service Ministry at the Capitol Hill Church of Christ and with Habitat for Humanity. In addition, his essay won first place in UCO’s spring Multicultural Institute. Ulyses sees a lack of youth leadership as the cause of many problems facing teens today. |
 Nicole Prabhu A senior at Casady School, Nicole Prabhu brings an impressive variety of experience and accomplishment to Youth Council. She is active in the Latin and Sign Language Clubs and member of the varsity golf team, and has taken courses as varied as trigonometry, ceramics and Chinese I, earning a cumulative GPA of 3.89. She has been a class member of both Youth Leadership Exchange and Youth Leadership Edmond and serves on the Teen Board of Infant Crisis Services. Additionally Nicole is a junior member of Casady’s Cum Laude Society and has been recognized with a Presidential Service Award. She is concerned
about the rising number of high school dropouts in Oklahoma City,
and the increase of childhood obesity. |
Ward 8 |
|
 Megan Caudill Megan Caudill is making the most of her years at Deer Creek High School where she is a member of the Class of 2008. Elected to serve as Student Council vice-president her senior
year, Megan is also a member of the Multicultural Club, National Honor Society,
Spanish Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Additionally she has tutored students in pre-algebra
and volunteered at Mercy Named the outstanding student in physical science and world geography, Megan has won the Randolph Macon Women’s College Book Award and been nominated to the Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine. She ranks fifth in her class of 155 with a weighted GPA of 4.2. Megan is disturbed by the number of Oklahoma City youth who lack
pride in their city and state. |
 Katie Eissenstat “An excellent student, talented performer and dedicated leader” Katie
Eissenstat brings a variety of A member of Putnam City North’s Class of 2009, Katie is a member of Student Council, Show Choir, Drama Club, Key Club, French Club, National Honor Society and Business Persons of America. She has studied performing arts with Lyric Academy, Stage Struck Studios and Dance Innovations and is an active member of Church of the Servant. A graduate of Youth Leadership Exchange, Katie has a weighted GPA of 4.28. She believes that teens
are turning to self-destructive behaviors due to stress and
seeks ways to remedy the situation. |
Purpose
The Youth Council of Oklahoma City provides Oklahoma City youth an effective, meaningful channel to influence decisions affecting their homes, schools, friends, and community.
Activities
The Youth Council of Oklahoma City is comprised of 18 Youth Councilors, two from each of the 8 wards and two at-large. The Youth Council members will learn about local government, its components, processes, challenges and successes.
Eligibility
Youth Council members must live in a ward of the City of Oklahoma City.
They must be a high school sophomores, juniors or seniors in the current academic year. Public, private, and home-school students of equivalent grade are all eligible.
They must have a cumulative 2.75 or higher GPA for the previous academic year.
Applicants should demonstrate an interest in government issues and community service.
To Learn More
Download a Youth Council application. New council members are chosen twice a year. This is an Adobe Acrobat file which you may print and complete to apply for a position on the Council.