Two Grand Valley high school students have been selected to participate in the National Student Leadership Congress in Washington, D.C.

Angelina Alejandre, a junior at Central High School, and Terrence Liu, a sophomore at Grand Junction High School, will join with nearly 170 other students from across the United States in the six-day program at American University in June.

Participants in the National Student Leadership Congress will join in a mock congress in which they’ll explore and debate solutions to issues. Participants also will meet one-on-one with members of the U.S. Congress on Capitol Hill to share their stories as soon-to-be first-generation college students.

Alejandre and Liu are first-generation students in the TRIO Upward Bound program at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. The program helps students with high school academics, advices them on high school and college course selections and exposes them to college experiences.

Shelby Burroughs Pryzgoda, director of the TRIO Upward Bound program, praised Alejandre and Liu.

“Angelina is a motivated student and dedicated Upward Bound member. Since joining Upward Bound last year, Angelina has gone above and beyond to reach her future goal of becoming an attorney,” Burroughs Pryzgoda said.

“Terrence is an incredible student who wants to dedicate his career to helping others. He makes the most of every opportunity, and I know this experience will help him grow even more as a leader, student and person,” Burroughs Pryzgoda said.

Alejandre and Liu said they’re excited about participating in the National Student Leadership Congress.

“The National Student Leadership Congress will give me a platform to speak on issues I am passionate about, such as higher education, homelessness and injustice,” Alejandre said.

Liu, who also aspires to become a lawyer, said he hopes to work with other students to find solutions to such problems as the rise in poverty among young people, the increasing cost of college and reforming the path to citizenship.

Students at Central and Grand Junction high schools interested in the TRIO Upward Bound program should talk with their high school counselors.