LANSING - In an effort to encourage our students to pursue higher education for the betterment of both themselves and our state, State Representative Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor) awarded two $500 scholarships to Christina Tzortzinis and Lauren Weston at a reception on Monday, August 13th from 7-8pm in the Lower Level Conference Room of the Washtenaw County Building.
A graduate of Huron High School, Christina Tzortzinis served as Chair of the Youth Empowerment Project's Youth Senate School Board Committee, and lead team member in the Youth Senate's Leap the Gap project over the past 2 years, conducting extensive research on how to address the achievement gap in Ann Arbor Public Schools. She is a member of the Huron High School Young Democrats and helped to plan, develop and execute Generation Vote Coalition during the 2004 Election, a non-partisan effort to register and inform 18-24 year-olds about voting. An award winning A Cappella singer, member and Secretary of National Honor Society, and varsity athlete, Christina plans to attend the University of Michigan in the fall.
A graduate of Pioneer High School, Lauren Weston has been heavily involved in the Neutral Zone throughout her high school career, acting as a member of the VOLUME Poetry Program for two years and the Teen Advisory Council for the past three years. She is a member of the city-wide youth slam poetry team that will be representing Ann Arbor at the national competition in San Jose, CA this summer and has served as a curator for Breakin' Curfew, a collaborative project between the Neutral Zone and the University Musical Society, for the past two years. A member of the National Honor Society and the award winning crew team for four years, as well as team captain her senior year, Lauren plans to attend Loyola University in Chicago in the fall.
Both recipients won the scholarships based on their strong leadership, community involvement and academic credentials. "These young ladies truly exemplify the mission of the Envision Michigan Fund and I have no doubt they will bring the award great honor. I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to meet them and look forward to their continued success," Warren said.
The scholarship money will come out of Representative Warren's Envision Michigan Fund, which was established in order to better promote progressive policies, educational opportunities and active citizenship in our state.
For more information, please call 517-373-2577 or email rebekahwarren@house.mi.gov.