2 Acadiana seniors among state finalists for US Senate Youth Program
Two Acadiana high school seniors have been named state finalists for the U.S. Senate Youth Scholarship Program.
Paresh Kolluru of Lafayette High School and Anil Cacodcar of Episcopal School of Acadiana were recognized as finalists, along with other seniors from across Louisiana, in a virtual ceremony in November.
"The young men recognized as finalists represent the best our state has to offer from private, public and parochial schools across the state," reads a release from the Lafayette Parish School System.
Both Acadiana students have experience on the Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council and are actively involved in their schools.
Cacodcar, 16, is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Portugal, his birthplace, and he started school at ESA in eighth grade in 2017. He is active in Quiz Bowl, French Club, and Youth and Government Club at the school.
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Kolluru, 17, is in the Gifted program at Lafayette High, where he also competes in speech and debate and serves on Student Council, Youth and Government Club, Beta and more.
From the state finalist candidates, two delegates and two alternates will be announced in January by the William R. Hearst Foundation.
The two delegates will receive a $10,000 college scholarship and will be invited to attend the annual Washington Week, which took place virtually last year due to COVID-19, experiencing Washington, D.C., with delegates from across the country.
Kolluru spent the last summer working as a page in the state legislature, an experience that would benefit him should he be chosen as a delegate.
"I have a better understanding of how the Louisiana Senate works itself, and I'm sure that work will correlate to the U.S. Senate," Kolluru said.
Kolluru said Washington Week would be an eye-opening experience and an opportunity to connect with not only top politicians but also people his age with the same passions from across the nation.
"I'm looking forward to that dialogue aspect," Cacodcar said.
The application process called for the high-schoolers to complete essays and a 75-minute timed writing about gerrymandering, which was fresh on Cacodcar's mind.
"I'd just learned about it the previous day in my AP U.S. Government class," the senior said. "It was a perfect storm of timing."
In his essay Kolluru focused on how gerrymandering has inordinately impacted low-income and minority populations.
His twin sister and fellow LHS senior Roma also was in the running but did not make it beyond the school level.
"Being twins in the same grade, we're constantly competing in the same things," Kolluru said. "We've learned to celebrate each other's success."
Finalists completed a virtual interview and a test about U.S. government, Supreme Court cases and other subjects he enjoys.
"It was difficult but something I've been preparing my whole life for," he said. "These are things I'm very eager to learn about."
More: Louisiana student delegate in U.S. Youth Senate Program was born to serve
Selection of the two finalists and delegates is based on portfolio scores and results of the written exam and interview.
Kolluru hopes opportunities like this help him use his voice and inspire other young people to find and use theirs.
"Oftentimes as youth, our ideas are brushed aside," Kolluru said. "I found a passion for giving a voice to those who don't have one and equip younger people and underclassmen to do the same."
Contact children's issues reporter Leigh Guidry at Lguidry@theadvertiser.com or on Twitter @LeighGGuidry.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: 2 Acadiana seniors named state finalists for U.S. Senate Youth Program
