U-Hi Russian Exchange Student Gets Firsthand Look At Washington, D.C.

Sixteen-year-old Maria Osipenko has just returned from a week in Washington, D.C., where she and about 100 other Russian exchange students had a close-up look at democracy in action.

Osipenko, who is a junior this year at University High School, explains that the Future Leaders Exchange program is designed to teach Russian teenagers about democracy.

In Washington, D.C., Osipenko got to meet Washington state’s congressmen, tour the U.S. Capitol and meet with State Department officials and members of the national press.

Learning that even “normal people” can sit in on sessions of Congress impressed her. Learning of Americans’ apathy toward voting has not.

“At home, all the older people vote, and I think they vote very well,” she said.

But even before she left for the capital on March 19, Osipenko had her finger on one of the crucial difference between Russia and the United States: People in this country have to make their own decisions.

“That begins in high school, where they can choose classes to study,” Osipenko wrote in an essay that qualified her for the recent trip. “It sounds easy, but actually it’s really important to the future of the person, and it isn’t as easy as it sounds.”

For the first time, for instance, Osipenko has had the choice of whether to take science.

“I hate science,” she admits, “so I’m not taking any this year.”

Osipenko’s home is in Novobirsk, a city of about 1 million people in Siberia. She started this year without a strong sense of mission.

“I just wanted to come and see America, to make friends,” she said. “But now I feel responsible to go back. Many people in this program don’t want to. They just want to stay in this country.”

Russia has its own culture and can not simply become another America, she said. “But we who have had a chance to see this, to see democracy, should go back and tell others.”

EV Band and Choir successes

The following East Valley High School students will go on to all-state music competition after winning at the Eastern Washington Music Educators Association Solo and Ensemble Festival.

Exchange student Frido Boost won first in snare drum; Carly Stewart and Rachel Gerk were second runner-up in woodwind ensemble; Kaylin Green won first in mezzo soprano; Stephanie Ellis won second alternate in soprano. The Treble Select group won first alternate in women’s ensemble; Stephanie Boorman and Rachea Thomas were second alternates in women’s ensemble.

Destination Imagination

Two teams from Centennial Middle School placed second in their divisions of Destination Imagination, held recently at Eastern Washington University’s Riverpoint facility.

The sixth-grade team included Garrett Hanson, Amy Allen, Cassie Krum, Kayla Kazemba, Leah Heideman, Alex Brown and Cara Kazemba. Their problem was Apples and Oranges; students wrote and acted out a skit in which one species adopted another.

Seventh-graders included Mandy Hohner, Emmett DeLateur, Keely Shields, Melissa Hanson, Glen Water, Tenley Pring and Ashley Wieber. Their problem was Instant Pudding Improvisation, in which students did improvisational skits, with impromptu characters and differing time periods.

Orchard Center Elementary School student Hannah Begley’s name was omitted when her school’s Destination Imagination team was recognized in a recent Valley Voice.

U-Hi Knowledge Bowl team 10th

The University High School Knowledge Bowl team placed 10th at state competition, the team’s best showing ever.

The competition was held Saturday in Camas, Wash.

Team members were John Oakes, Jason Duba, Matt Schroeder and Darin Steblaj, with alternates Andy Rowse and Hanna Olson.

SAY IT at East Valley

Students from several high schools gathered at East Valley High School last week to learn about a youth advisory program run by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray.

The SAY IT program stands for Senate Advisory Youth Involvement Team. Interested students were invited to join in a yearlong effort to research an issue and form a legislative recommendation to Murray. That process will start in September.

“This is an opportunity for you to make a big difference in Eastern Washington,” said Shannon Waechter, a Murray aide. “You have great brains … and it also looks good on your resume.”

Students also discussed issues of concern to them, including teen pregnancy, equity in sports funding and recognition for drama and the arts.