Kristen Ponturiero, a 9th grade student at Leonardtown High School, participated in the Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference (PYIC) held Jan. 17-21, in Washington, D.C.  The PYIC was held in conjunction with the inauguration of President Barack Obama. The PYIC provided scholars with a deeper understanding of history behind the electoral process and the rich traditions surrounding the presidential inauguration.

Ponturiero was invited to participate in the PYIC through her participation in the National Youth Leaders State Conference held November 2008 in Chevy Chase. She was nominated to attend NYLSC by the administrators of Leonardtown Middle School, where she served as the treasurer of the Student Council, and chaired the school’s recycling committee.  As a member of the National Junior Honor Society, Ponturiero spearheaded a tutoring program.  She was also awarded the President’s Education Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence. As a freshman at Leonardtown High, Ponturiero maintains a 4.0 grade point average, is enrolled in honors courses, is a member of the French Club, participates in ballet and jazz dance classes, and serves as a teacher’s aid. She is the daughter of Augustine and Karolyn Ponturiero of Leonardtown.

The PYIC and the NYLSC were sponsored by the Congressional Youth Leadership Council (CYLC), a nonpartisan, independent, educational organization. Since 1985 the Council has inspired more than 200,000 young people to achieve their full leadership potential. For additional information on the Council and its programs, visit www.cylc.org/pyic.