T.O. teen attends leadership conference
By Stephanie Bertholdo
bertholdo@theacorn.com

FUTURE LEADER-Trevor Scheck of T.O. goes to Washington.

Trevor Scheck is a leader.

The Thousand Oaks High School junior recently returned from the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington D.C., where his skills were tested and honed in the nation’s political hub.

Scheck was among 400 young attendees from across the country who met and interacted with personnel from the three branches of government, news media and the international community.

The conference theme was "The Leaders of Tomorrow Meeting the Leaders of Today."

Students participated in role-playing activities during the four-day conference. During the If I Were President section, they were asked to act as the president and cabinet members during an international crisis.

Scheck portrayed the director of commerce, and had to consider the economic consequences of a senator being killed in a mortar attack in the Congo.

Other students focused on security issues, the release of information to the media and a myriad of other details that would be considered during a real crisis.

Students tested the constitution in another unit, examining actual Supreme Court cases. Scheck’s favorite section was the Model Congress where students assumed the role of U.S. representatives and debate, amend and vote on proposed legislation.

"The Model Congress was the most meaningful (part of the program)," he said. Scheck’s group split up into caucuses and amended a bill on homeland security.

While the legislation was based upon real legislation, he said it was tailored to the constraints of a student conference. Scheck noted that in reality, the document would have been about 400 pages.

"It was still very realistic," he said. Although the students completed writing the bill, it was voted down.

Scheck was selected by a teacher to attend the leadership development program based on his scholastic merit and demonstrated leadership abilities.

Enrolled in many advanced placement classes, Scheck is also active in his school’s music program.

He plays tenor saxophone in the TOHS marching band, the oboe in the school’s concert band and the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra, and serves as the junior representative on the band council.

But it was the conference that captured Scheck’s recent attention.

"My very favorite part (of the conference) was when I got to sit on the floor of conference in front of the democratic lectern, in the front row," he said. Scheck also enjoyed meeting the staff of Senator Barbara Boxer, Senator Dianne Feinstein and other politicians.

Apparently, the young leader made an impression on the conference organizers. He’s been invited back during the summer to speak to middle school students attending the conference.

Although the political scene was exciting, Scheck doesn’t foresee a future in the field.

He did say, however, that he gained a new appreciation of what politicians do for a living and how the government is run. Scheck wants to become a bio-medical engineer and will continue with his music as an avocation.

"We are very grateful to Mr. (Anthony) Martone," said Anne Scheck, Trevor’s mother. Martone is the band director at T.O. High School and selected Trevor to participate in the program.

The conference is sponsored by the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization.