Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M Announces 30 Delegates for the Texas Statewide Youth Leadership Forum

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS – The Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University is pleased to announce the selection of delegates to its 2007 Texas Statewide Youth Leadership Forum (YLF). Thirty rising high school juniors and seniors with disabilities from across Texas will attend this year's YLF, to be held July 23 through July 27 on the campus of St. Edward’s University in Austin.

The YLF delegates are selected through a competitive application process. Emphasis is placed on the student's demonstration of leadership potential, participation in extra-curricular activities, school and/or community involvement, and the ability to interact well with other students. Geographic location, ethnicity and disability type are also considered so that the YLF represents a diverse group of students.

The 2007 delegates are (listed alphabetically by hometown):

Anthony Fallbeck, Abilene
Brittany Long, Abilene
Delana Marquette, Abilene
Wayne Nalepa, Abilene
Jessie Portillo, Abilene
Colby Arrington, Arlington
Thomas Gill, Arlington
Emma Roblyer, Bryan
Brittany Ruiz, Carrollton
Eric Duran, Clint
Amelia Knighton, Clyde
Sabrina Williams, Dallas
Anthony Hood, Del Valle
Millie Alcala, El Paso
Patrick Horan, El Paso
Peria Juarez, El Paso
Christopher Paniagua, El Paso
Rachel-Iris Flores-Maldonado, El Paso
Jose Payan, El Paso
Genaro Pulido, El Paso
Frank Tonche, El Paso
Sarah Johnson, Humble
Lauren Carter, Katy
Brian Paschal, Katy
Brittany Archambeau, Lufkin
Sharosalie Hunt, Lufkin
Brianne Strickland, Lufkin
Shelby Newhouse, Montgomery
Katrian Baxlely, Sulphur Springs
Kelli Luthringer, Texarkana

YLF’s goal is to develop youth into leaders who advocate for persons with disabilities and influence policy development. The week’s activities will include a one-day tour of the Capitol with opportunities to meet state legislators, the governor and to hold mock legislative sessions. Training topics will include leadership skills, self-determination, self-advocacy, disability history, legislative process and issues dealing with college preparation, employment preparation and community involvement. A guest appearance by Miss Wheelchair Texas, Sarah Whitlock, will be one of the highlights of the week. See the full schedule of YLF activities.

YLF, which began in California in 1992, is currently active in 38 states. The primary purpose of YLF is to teach young people with disabilities to become leaders and advocates for the disability community. The Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University is working in partnership with the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities and the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services to promote YLF in Texas.

For more information, contact Cheryl Grenwelge, YLF coordinator, at 979-458-1593 or cgrenwelge@tamu.edu, or visit the Texas YLF web site at http://txylf.tamu.edu.

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