Westside High graduates attend national leadership summit

Westside High School graduates Marina Telzlaff and Harlin Oh recently attended the national Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., as part of the 2012 Student Leaders program.

Sponsored by the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, the leadership program involves students participating in paid eight-week summer internships at local nonprofits with the goal of giving students exposure to life skills while helping their local communities.

"Teens have been disproportionally affected by the recession, with unemployment rates at an all-time high," said Kim Ruth, Texas president for Bank of America, in a press release. "Through the Student Leaders program, students are receiving more than just a paycheck. They are gaining valuable real-world experience that will help them develop further as leaders, all while helping to strengthen Houston during a time when an increased number of people need assistance."

A total of 225 juniors and seniors from across the country took part in the 2012 Student Leaders program, and Telzlaff and Oh were among four Houston Independent School District graduates to attend the summit, joining Olivia Arena of Bellaire High School and Vivien Rivera of Reagan High School.

For more information about Westside High School events, visit hs.houstonisd.org/westsidehs.