ACHIEVERS

Two Oklahoma students have been named state delegates to the U.S. Senate Youth Program, which brings together two student leaders from every state and Washington, D.C., for a weeklong trip to the nation’s capital.

Pranoy Behera, of Bartlesville High School, and Andrew “Drew” Hill, of Norman North High School, will join delegates from across the country March 4-11 in Washington.

Behera is president of his school’s chapter of the National Honor Society and regional ambassador for the National Society of High School Scholars. He volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma and the symphonic orchestra. Recently selected as a National Merit semifinalist, Behera also enjoys speech and debate class and plays violin in the honor orchestra, according to a news release.

Hill is president of his senior class and serves as state president of the Oklahoma Association of Student Councils. He is a graduate of Youth Leadership Oklahoma and the West Point Summer Leaders Experience seminar and is an ambassador for the High School Leadership Conference. A member of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council at the Oklahoma state Education Department, he is captain of his varsity cross-country team and enjoys playing classical guitar.

Jennifer Litchfield, from Carl Albert High School in Midwest City, and Louis Jackson, from MacArthur High School in Lawton, were chosen as alternates.

Behera and Hill will meet with officials from every branch of government and related fields, including members of Congress, congressional staff, the president, a Supreme Court justice, leaders of Cabinet agencies, an ambassador to the United States and members of the national media.

They also will receive $10,000 undergraduate scholarships with encouragement to continue their studies in government, history and public affairs.