Rep. Pete Olson hosts CYAC graduation

Rep. Pete Olson (R-Sugar Land) recently hosted graduation for the Congressional Youth Advisory Council.

The final meeting of the 2011-12 school year for the Congressional Youth Advisory Council was held May 19 by Sugar Land Rep. Pete Olson.

According to a press release, Olson discussed the importance of education and continued a Navy tradition for the inaugural class by distributing commemorative planks to each participant, along with graduation packets.

"I congratulate these students on their many achievements," Olson said in the press release. "Their participation in this council has been an invaluable experience for me and hopefully demonstrated to them the importance of engaging in the political process. I encourage them to follow their dreams and work hard to achieve their goals. It's been a pleasure getting to know these students and future leaders."

Sugar Land Mayor James Thompson and Fort Bend County Precinct 4 Commissioner James Patterson also spoke to the students about the importance of education.

Youth advisory students in attendance included Clear Springs High School students Kayla Cox, Nilufar Gorek, John Herrmann, Ravena Jacob, Amanda Kerstman, Komal Luthra, Maximillian McElligott, Priya Ramchandra and Logan Reed; Clear Brook High School students Daniel Casas and Zachariah Higginbotham; Clear Lake High School student Ryan Horlacher and George Liu; and Pasadena Memorial High School students Erika Garza, Blake Huddleston and Leslie Lopez.