Two Oklahoma City High School students from each of the eight City Council wards, plus two at-large members are appointed to eight-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 sponsored by the City of Oklahoma City and administered by Youth Leadership Exchange.
At large |
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 Kathryn Caudill A member of Deer Creek High School’s Class of 2009, Katie Caudill
has been described as Active in her school’s organizations, Katie, who has a 4.0 GPA, is a member of Key Club, Multicultural Club and the Academic Team. She is a Freshman Mentor, Vice-President of her class and an officer in the National Honor Society. A member of YLX Leadership Skills Class XIII, Katie is a Plan Scholar who has won the World History Departmental Award and the Deer Creek Enrichment Foundation Award. Katie cites three issues facing the youth of |
 Patrick Chong Patrick Chong, a member of the Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School Class of 2009, is making the most of his high school years. A member of the Clancy Club spirit group He is also a member of the National Honors Society, Dance Visions and the McGuinness newspaper staff. Patrick volunteers with the Young He was awarded Cum Laude standing on the National Latin Exam and has a 4.2 weighted GPA. Additionally his writing and graphic designs have won awards in the Oklahoma Scholastic Media competition. Patrick is concerned by the political apathy and the lack of
indebtedness to America he sees in his peers. |
Ward 1 |
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 Alexandria Assaleh Alexandria Assaleh, a member of the Putnam City North Class of 2010, excels in the classroom, in athletics and in the community. A member of Family Career and She has also been named the In the community, Alexandria has volunteered with Careshare, Special Olympics and the Regional Food Bank. According to Alexandria’s government teacher, Michael Reggio, “she is
one of the few students that I have had who truly has begun the
internalization of the old Roman concept of ‘civic virtue’ – the concept
Alexandria is concerned by the high school drop-out rate in our
community. |
 Hanna Daly Bright. Dedicated. A desire to make a difference. All words used to describe Hannah Daly, a rising junior at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School. Hannah has been busy: She is a member of the Metro Alliance for Animal Life where she is the webmaster and serves on the Public Relations Committee. Additionally, Hannah is involved with the Sharefest volunteer group, the Spanish Club, Key Club, Young People for a Cleaner Earth and has worked with an equine vet at Remington Park. Hannah is a member of the National Honors Society, the Spanish National Honor Society and the National Society of High School Scholars. She is especially proud of her work as a math tutor: many of the students with whom she has worked have raised their grades considerably and even received awards. Hannah feels the top two issues facing Oklahoma City youth are substance abuse and teen pregnancy. |
Ward 2 |
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 Emma Land Emma Land, member of the Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School Class of 2009, has a broad range of talents and interests. A member of the varsity tennis team, A member of the National Honor Society, Emma has also hosted and been a German exchange student and has served as German Club President. Her numerous volunteer experiences include teaching Sunday
School and vacation Bible school, volunteering with Ranked #1 in her class at Bishop McGuinness, Emma sees insufficient
funding for schools, gang violence and the spread of MRSA staph
infection in schools as
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 Garrett Zwahlen Garrett Zwahlen, Casady School junior, brings a wide variety of
abilities and experiences Garrett is an Eagle Scout, a member of the varsity football, wrestling and track teams and a two year member of Student Council. He serves as Membership and Religious/Educational Vice President of his Temple Youth Group and has paged for Senator Cliff Brannon at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Garrett has received the gold medal for both the National Spanish
and National Latin Exam, and the Vanderbilt Garrett has been variously described as “incredibly organized and motivated,” “a fine student leader,” and “disciplined and intellectually curious.” Garrett, whose current GPA is 4.04, cites obesity and abuse of drugs and alcohol as issues that challenge the youth of Oklahoma City. |
Ward 3 |
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 Micah Cain Natural-born leader. Diplomatic under stress. A talent for
attention to detail. A two year member of Student Council, Micah currently serves as secretary. Additionally he has served as Freshman Class Treasurer and Sophomore Class President. He has volunteered for the Metropolitan Library System’s “Come Read
with Me” program, and has been the children’s program sound
technician at Capitol Hill A two year member of the widely honored Western Heights choir
program, He has also placed first in the male vocal solo competition at the Assemblies of Gold State Fine Arts Festival. Micah would like to see more students involved in school and community activities.
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 April Zamora April Zamora, a member of the Western Heights Class of 2009, has taken advantage of much her school has to offer: She is actively involved in Student Council, Key Club, Renaissance Club, Science Club, Native American Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Multi-Cultural Club, Choir, Mock Trial, and has been a cast member of several Western Heights musical presentations. Off campus, April has been a member of the League of United Latin American Citizens and has participated in the Oklahoman’s Newsroom 101 program. In addition to all this (and to maintaining a 3.86 overall GPA) April has been very active in Western Heights’ Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps and its drill team. She has won the NJROTC Community Service Award, Color Guard Award, Distinguished Cadet Award, Honor Cadet Award, and the Exemplary Conduct Award. Her name regularly appears on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll, and has received the WHHS Top Jet Award. April is concerned about gangs, and also about teen suicide and drinking and driving. |
Ward 4 |
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 Jade Owen Jade Owen, a member of the Carl Albert High School Class of 2009, has packed a great deal into her high school years. She has participated Student Council and National Honor Society. She is a past or present officer of her Key Club Chapter, FCCLA, BLAST and Pride Club and is a member of the Midwest City Chamber of Commerce Youth Excel Program. Jade serves on the Regional Food Bank’s Additionally, Jade is part of the OU Medical Center Summer Volunteer Program, where she has been named Most Outstanding Leader two years in a row. Her recommenders speak of her intelligence, determination, focus, positive attitude and sense of humor. They also see her as mature, organized and responsible. Jade feels that alcohol use among teenagers and lack of funds for education should all be of concern to the youth of Oklahoma City. She also is concerned about teens not registering to vote. |
 Zachary Sanders Described as responsible, diligent, bold, with a sharp intellect and an analytical mind, Zac Sanders is a member of the Christian Heritage Academy Class of 2010. Zac is active on the political team of Salt and Light, a school/church/community leadership program. His church activities include participation in a teen praise band, vacation Bible school, the National Baptist Convention, the Angel Ministry, the Hannah Project and a mission trip to Texas. Zac has played club soccer since he was four, as well as basketball and weightlifting. Within the community he has volunteered for Special Olympics, the Crusader Care Project and at the Red Cross Wellness Center at Tinker AFB. Zac has been selected to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Award Camp and his science project was selected for regional competition. Zac believes that issues of concern to Oklahoma City youth include teen pregnancy, gang involvement and the increasing rate of high school dropouts |
Ward 5 |
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 Joshua Gonshor Josh Gonshor, a member of the Mount St. Mary’s Class of 2009, is using his leadership abilities in many different ways. As the newly elected treasurer for the Texas-Oklahoma District of Key Club International, he has assumed responsibility for the finances of 300 clubs in the district. An Eagle Scout, Josh is also Senior Patrol Leader of his Troop 17. Through St. Andrews Catholic Church, Josh has served as both lector and altar server and has participated in the Street People Homeless Ministry. He has volunteered as an assistant soccer coach for the Police Athletic League and is a member of the 2007 regional champion drama team from Mount St. Mary’s. A member of both his school’s tennis and soccer teams, Josh is also active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society and Drama Club. He feels two of the most crucial issues facing Oklahoma City’s youth are crime and the concerns of affording college. |
 David Postic David Postic is ranked number one in the Class of 2009 at Westmoore High School with a 4.67 weighted GPA. Not content to excel just in the classroom, David (who has won awards in English, mathematics, journalism and science) is an Eagle Scout, a nationally recognized debater, a member of the Student Council, the yearbook staff, the Journalism Club, the National Honor Society, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the track team. Since 2002 David has been a scripture reader, greeter, usher and Sunday School assistant at his church, and for the last twelve years, he has studied and composed music. According to his physics teacher at Westmoore, “People like David make me proud of what I do and hopeful for the future.” David is concerned about teens’ limited ability to pay for college, their limited understanding of the economy, and their limited knowledge of the workings of our city. |
Ward 6 |
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 Mariel Colbert “My heart is kind and my mind goal-oriented.” This is a quote from Mariel Colbert, a member of Dove Science Academy’s Class of 2010. A member of the National Honor Society whose name regularly appears on Dove’s honor roll, Mariel participates in student government and the annual science fair. She has mentored at the Memorial Park Boys and Girls Club since the eighth grade, and was named their Youth of the Year for Oklahoma City in 2008. As part of her involvement, Mariel has designed her own tutoring program called Transition, to help ease students’ move from middle school to high school. For three summers she has volunteered with the downtown library’s summer reading program. Additionally, Mariel was a member of the Youth Leadership Exchange Youth in Action Class VIII. She sees Oklahoma City teens’ three major problems as gangs, apathy and substance abuse. |
 Trung Le Trung Le, a member of the Santa Fe South Class of 2009, has talents that range from academics through athletics to advocacy. Trung has a cumulative GPA of 3.9 and is ranked third in his class. A varsity letterman, Trung is a member of Santa Fe South’s soccer team that was a 4A State Finalist. Trung was also one of five Santa Fe South students chosen to attend the National Council of La Raza’s Advocacy Day in Washington, DC. Trung has received the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Award and been active in the Oklahoma Institute for Diversity in Journalism. A member of Youth Leadership Exchange’s Leadership Skills Class XIII, Trung’s community service activities include a school missionary trip and work on Habitat for Humanity homes. Like Mariel, he is concerned about gang participation by Oklahoma City teens. He sees obesity and teen pregnancy as two other issues he would like to remedy. |
Ward 7 |
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 James Foster A member of the Classen School of Advanced Studies Class of 2009, James Foster is a “very cordial, fun-loving and hard-working young man” who is “a fine leader who leads by example.” James is a member of Classen’s National Honors Society, Ambassadors Corps and Black Student Union and a two year member of Student Council. He cofounded the quartet, Entourage, and coordinated the school’s Variety Show and Multicultural Show. Additionally he played the Tin Man in this year’s production of “The Wiz”. Both the Central Oklahoma Choral Directors and the Oklahoma Music Educators have included James in their honors choirs and he is the youngest member of Oklahoma City’s acclaimed Ambassadors Concert Choir. After attending Oklahoma Christian University’s Academy of Leadership and Liberty in 2007, he was one of six participants selected to serve on their Advisory Council in 2008. James is concerned by gangs and the availability of quality education for all students. |
 Christopher Gregory Described as conscientious, compassionate and driven to serve before seeking personal gain, Cris Gregory, a member of Edmond Memorial High School’s Class of 2009, is “intelligent, very goal-oriented and respected by peers and teachers.” Active on the football team and in Science and Computer Clubs, Cris is a member of the Young Men’s Service League, where he built ramps for elderly couples and assisted with Special Olympics, and Henderson Hills Baptist Church where he volunteers at the Hillside Café, a church ministries fundraiser. He has also been recognized for his writing in “The Rock “a school magazine. In addition, Cris was selected to attend Boy’s State in the summer of 2008. Yearly, Cris and his family visit Washington, DC, to lobby Oklahoma’s legislators about healthcare issues. He sees voter apathy among the young is a significant problem that
needs to be addressed by increased efforts to make them aware of the
importance of their vote. |
Ward 8 |
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 Robert Cail Robert Cail, a member of the Edmond Santa Fe Class of 2009, has been active in a number of diverse areas through his high school career. He has been Parliamentarian for the Oklahoma Junior Classical League and currently serves as President of Santa Fe’s Latin Club. An Eagle Scout, Robert is a member of the Archdiocesan Youth Advisory Board, Youth Leadership Edmond, Edmond Youth Council, Varsity Track, Varsity Academic Team, Cross Country, Men’s Chorus, the Santa Fe Math Club and the National Honor Society. He has attended the Quartz Mountain Summer Arts Institute for Vocal Music and has scored the highest of any Santa Fe student in the American Mathematics Association Competition. According to a family friend he learned division at three to be sure he and his sister had an equal share of the egg rolls, and he has taught himself Calculus. He is concerned with the quality of the decisions some teens make
while driving. |
 Jonathan McKinstry A member of Harding Charter Preparatory High School’s Class of 2009, Jonathan McKinstry has been described as “open and adventurous, while being well-grounded in character and eager to achieve the most from his education” who has “high standards and lofty goals.” Already a two-year officer of his class, Jonathan has served as class President and will be class Secretary as well as Student Council President his Senior year. A four-year member of Harding’s Principal’s Honor Roll, Jonathan is also a member of the National Honor Society and captain of the Mock Trial Team. He was unanimously selected to attend Boy’s State and is a graduate of Youth Leadership Exchange Leadership Skills Class XII. Active in his church, Jonathan has been a family leader at the New Beginnings Episcopal Youth Retreat, and has been part of a mission trip to Mexico. Jonathan identifies the top three issues facing the youth of Oklahoma
City as underage drinking and smoking, teen pregnancy and STDs and
childhood obesity. |
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 juniors or seniors in the current academic year. They can apply as a sophomore for their junior year. Public, private, and home-school students of equivalent grade are all eligible.
They must have a cumulative 3.0 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 once a year in a process that runs from spring to early summer. This is an Adobe Acrobat file which you may print and complete to apply for a position on the Council.