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TAMRA OLIVE SEES CAPITOL HILL IN ACTION

Aug. 25, 2002 – Tamra Olive comes to her senior year at Charlotte Amalie High School with a lot of new knowledge about what goes on in Washington, D.C. She spent 10 days in August at the National Young Leaders Conference, along with high school students from throughout the United States, interacting, working through issues, meeting Congressional members and staff, and seeing what happens in D.C. apart from Capitol Hill.
The students spent several hours with journalists from Fox News Channel, National Public Radio, The Washington Post, and CNN, hearing a panel and then discussing current events, journalistic ethics, news prioritization, and the inside scoop on careers in journalism.
"More young people should attend, it's exciting, and I really learned a lot," Tamra said
On the Hill, the students were welcomed to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, an honor usually reserved for members of Congress and their special guests, said a release.
In the chamber where the State of the Union Address takes place, the students were told by Tim Kennedy, staff member to U.S. Representative William Thornberry of Texas, in this room "our government has shaped the history of this country. Many pieces of legislation have been crafted and deals have been struck that have changed the course of our nation in this very room."
Kennedy concluded, "There is not a doubt in my mind that some of you here will take up the challenge of elected office."
Tamra, daughter of Laverne and Thomas Olive of St. Thomas, said she most enjoyed Capitol Hill, visiting the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, and the Delegate's office and staff. Her future lies, however, she believes, in working in the criminal justice system, and she plans to start college studies after she graduates.
Sponsoring organization of the conference, Congressional Youth Leadership Council, was founded in 1985. Each year 7,000 outstanding select youth participate in 24 sessions of the conference.
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