By Jennifer Mayer
Future BYU student Kristen Lingam of Provo had a rare opportunity to spend six days in the nation''s capital with other high school seniors and juniors from across the country to learn about law professions.
Like 350 high school students nationwide, Lingam attended the National Youth Leadership Forum on Law during November 2002.
Lingam was the only high school student from Utah to attend. She will graduate from Timpview High School in April 2003, and will attend BYU during the fall.
Headquartered in Washington D.C., the National Youth Leadership Forum offers a variety of seminars to college and high school students.
NYLF forums focus on a variety of topics including anthropology, archaeology, business, defense, diplomacy, education, engineering, environmental studies, law medicine and technology.
Each conference provides a number of lectures from nationally recognized professionals providing insights to current issues; the conference usually ends with a simulation of the profession, according to NYLF''s Web site.
Students also had an opportunity to attend question and answer sessions with professionals, who discuss opportunities in any of the fields of interest, such as law, anthropology and technology.
In the past, Supreme Court justices, prosecutors of highly publicized cases like the Oklahoma City Bombing, the U.S. assistant director of defense and the under secretary of the Navy, have participated in many of NYLF''s conferences providing students with a unique opportunity to explore their field of study, according to Web site.
Students have an opportunity participate in simulations of a profession.
'The National Youth Leadership Forum on Law strives to provide exceptional high school students with the opportunity to analyze issues and develop conclusions on what justice means,' said Donna Snyder, executive director of National Youth Leadership Forum in a press release. 'Faced with a vast array of subjects to pique interest, this experience will help shape students'' plans for the future.'
The recent forum on law culminated with a court case reenactment of the Supreme Court case, Zelman v. Simmons-Harris. Students assumed roles as Supreme Court justices and attorneys.
'When considering the spectrum of today''s well-known court cases, from the prosecution of the sniper to Winona Ryder''s shoplifting case, students could not have chosen a better time to become scholars of our legal system,' Snyder said.
Educators, youth organization advisors, participating institutions, counselors and alumni of NYLF/LAW select students. Students are also sent applications through the National Research Center for College and University Admissions Talent Identification Program.
Students are required to have 3.3 grade point average or above to be considered.