By SARA GIBONEY
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – Marilyn Synek, a junior at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, has been selected for the prestigious National Student Congress by the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship.
The Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship is an innovative nonprofit dedicated to educating a new generation of leaders in the essential skills of negotiation, dialogue and compromise.
“This is another fabulous class of promising young leaders,” said Michael Vetter, executive director of the Henry Clay Center. “We look forward to engaging and inspiring these gifted students and immersing them in the legacy of the ‘the Great Compromiser’ Henry Clay, and the importance of cooperation in public policy and government.”
The Student Congress program is free to those selected from the competitive application process. Current college juniors and high school juniors with records of exceptional academic and extracurricular achievement were chosen for the academic and personal development course.
Synek, from Kearney, is traveling to Lexington, Ky., to participate in the June 11-17 college program.
During that week, participants will meet with lawmakers, academics, journalists and civic leaders to discuss the practical importance of compromise and constructive engagement and dialogue to resolve conflict and competing interests in a democracy.
Nationally-recognized guest speakers engage in seminars with the students, followed by a student debate on current topics in the Old State Capitol in nearby Frankfort, Ky. Past speakers have included justices of the Supreme Court, U.S. Speakers of the House, governors, U.S. Senators and other nationally recognized officials and academic thought leaders.
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