Houston, TX – Rep. Pete Olson (R-Sugar Land) held a meeting on Saturday at the Gilruth Center at the Johnson Space Center for the third meeting of his Congressional Youth Advisory Committee. Olson and three guest speakers - Astronaut Tim Kopra, Commander of the 147^th Operations Group Ellington Joint Reserve Base Col. Terence "Buster" Winkler and FBI Special Agent Patricia Villafranca addressed the students. Each speaker discussed their life experience and how they applied it to their career and encouraged the students to work hard in school and follow their heart when it comes to their future.

CYAC student Blake Huddleston said, "It's an honor to be a part of this group. Hearing from Congressman Olson and the other speakers opens my eyes to all the different ways you can make a difference." Blake is a senior at Pasadena Memorial High School and will attend Washington and Lee University in the fall. His goal is to become a federal prosecutor. 

CYAC student Irene Cofie said, "Hearing from Congressman Olson and the other speakers has been truly inspiring. They have taught me how to tackle each obstacle in life both morally and ethically. This group that Congressman Olson brings together has motivated me to become involved in my school and community. I'm proud to be a part of CYAC." Irene is a senior at Pearland Dawson High School and will attend Dartmouth in the fall.

CYAC parent Angelina Moshay, mother of Irene Cofie said, "CYAC and Congressman Olson are teaching these kids so much about life and opening their minds to all the opportunities they have. CYAC keeps getting better all the time."

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Olson - CYAC - Featured Guest Speakers

Olson addressing students with speakers seated behind

Students participating in the Advisory Council include:

Dawson High School

Colton Andrews, Junior

Irene Cofie, Senior

Ivy Lawrence-Walls, Senior

Rima Patel, Junior

Sharon Yang, Freshman

Pearland High School

Cynthia Jyrkila, Senior

Saydi Wollney, Senior

Austin High School

Siri Soth, Junior 

Clements High School

Bailey Arlinghaus, Senior

Rohail Dadwani, Senior

Victoria Diggs, Senior

Nikhil Iyer, Senior

Oluwafikayo Koyejo, Senior

Stephanie Lin, Junior

Brant Meredith, Sophmore

Baher Michel, Senior

Mah-rukh Muhammad, Senior

Sahar Sawani, Senior

Benjamin Segall, Junior

Gordon Tsai, Junior

Yu-Ting (Joyce) Toh, Senior

Madison Weaver, Senior     

Elkins High School

Milan Doshi, Junior

Abby Kincer, Senior

Foster High School

Stephanie Tsai, Senior

Hightower High School

Michelle Walton, Senior

Kempner High School

Drew Liscum, Senior

Allison Mock, Senior

Clear Springs High School

Kayla Cox, Senior

Nilufar Gorek, Junior

John Herrmann, Senior

Ravena Jacob, Junior

Amanda Kerstman, Senior

Komal Luthra, Sophmore

Maximillian McElligott, Junior

Priya Ramchandra, Senior

Logan Reed, Senior

Clear Brook High School

Daniel Casas, Freshman

Zachariah Higginbotham, Junior         

Clear Lake High School

Ryan Horlacher, Freshman

George Liu, Senior          

Deer Park High School

Katelyn Moody, Sophmore

Pasadena Memorial High School

Erika Garza, Senior

Blake Huddleston, Senior

Leslie Lopez , Junior