Patch Whiz Kid: Ana Villasenor

Each week, Port Chester Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid. Submit your nomination in our comment box below or e-mail the information to nik@patch.com.

Here's our story on this week's Whiz Kid:

Ana Villasenor

Senior at Port Chester High School

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: 

After developing a passion for government that she couldn’t shake, Villasenor decided to delve deeper.

She put her enthusiasm into action this year as she was named a 2011 award winner for Students Inside Albany, a student program by the League of Women Voters designed to provide a hands-on approach to learning about proposing, enacting and changing public policy in our state's capital. Villasenor, along with 40 other New York high schoolers, will partake in a four-day, all-expense paid training experience from April 10 to April 13 where they'll tag along with legislators, observe policy-making in action, and get the opportunity to pose questions directly to the men and women who run state government.

Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: 

Proving her qualifications and enthusiasm through a written essay was the easy part. Now, the Port Chester student is now well on her way to learning about the way aspects of her community work–and how to make difference.

Other perks – including meetings with State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer and Assemblyman George Latimer – provide a close-up look at government, and give Villasenor a lot to think over as she heads to college and considers a career path in public service.

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