Student bios: A look at some of the Sun Youth Forum participants

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019 | 12:45 p.m.

The 62^nd annual Sun Youth Forum was held in late November at the Las Vegas Convention Center. More than 1,000 students from about 50 Southern Nevada high schools attended to discuss local, state and world issues.

The forum gives the teenagers a platform to have their voice heard on solutions to help solve some of the world’s problems.

The students selected 28 representatives from their discussion groups who they agreed helped spark spirited debate. Here’s a look at some of those students:

Amanda Chambers

Palo Verde, junior

Clubs: AFJROTC, Armed drill team, choir, orchestra

World issues that concern you: Global warming and the vast amount of trash in the ocean.

Future plans: Attend college at the University of Utah, and become an eye surgeon

Noah Ahmed

Northwest CTA, senior

Clubs: National Honor Society of Sports Medicine, Peer Leaders, HOSA, Theater, Improv

World issues that concern you: Government ethics

Future plans: Become a psychiatrist or U.S. Senator

Michelle Bell

Desert Oasis, junior

Clubs: Soccer and cheer

World issues that concern you: Climate change and inequality

Future plans: Attend college and adopt more dogs

Amal Berhan

Green Valley, senior

Clubs: Interact Club, speech and debate, International Baccalaureate

World issues that concern you: Decrease in empathy and our desensitized environment

Future plans: Major in bio-chemistry and English

Ethan Samuel Krammer

Rancho, senior

Clubs: Science Bowl captain, HOSA, swimming, National Honor Society.

World issues that concern you: Availability of inexpensive vaccines in underdeveloped countries.

Future plans: Become a chemical/nuclear engineer.

Mable Jae Masino

Valley, senior

Clubs: Feminist club, International Baccalaureate Council, art club

World issues that concern you: Global warming

Future plans: Attend a four-year university to study sociology and history. Eventually go to law school.

Erik Larson

Bonanza, senior

Clubs: Soccer, track, chess and creative writing

World issues that concern you: Space exploration

Future plans: Study engineering and work for NASA

Mateo Monterde

Foothill, senior

Clubs: Football, AP club

World issues that concern you: Climate change

Future plans: Conduct research in economics

Andrez Parra

Las Vegas High, senior

Clubs: Varsity Quiz, Gear Up

World issues that concern you: LGBQT and rights

Future plans: Study neuroscience and become a psychiatrist

Jack Plourde

Durango, junior

Clubs: Student council and volleyball

World issues that concern you: Rise of socialism

Future plans: Become an astronautical engineer

Gabrielle Shiozawa

Moapa Valley, senior

Clubs: National Honor Society, cross county, Varsity Quiz, Spanish Honor Society

World issues that concern you: Intolerance

Future plans: Attend BYU to study news media and English

Emily Stevens

Veterans Tribute CTA, senior

Clubs: Skills USA, Color Guard, Varsity Quiz, We The People

World issues that concern you: Sex trafficking of women and domestic violence

Future plans: Attend college and pursue a career with the FBI or CIA

Elizabeth Westerlin,

Liberty senior

Clubs: Marching band, drum line, concert band and drum major

World issues that concern you: Global warming

Future plans: Attend UNR; own a cat

Jaylah Wilson

Foothill, junior

Clubs: Volleyball, speech and debate, sign language club

World issues that concern you: Government systems that turn a blind eye to the persecution or marginalization of a particular group of people in that country.

Future plans: Attend college for a career as a lawyer or interior design

Brennan Ferrington

Clark, senior

Clubs: Model United Nations, speech and debate, Science Bowl, Varsity Quiz

World issues that concern you: Climate change

Future plans: Dual major in physics and economics.