From left are Meko Thompson, Ty Nakamoto, Sen. Daniel Akaka, Gary Heusel, Denika Martin, and Victoria Andrade-McKeehan. (Photo special to Hawaii 24/7)

MEDIA RELEASE

Victoria Andrade-McKeehan, a Parker School sophomore and a member of the Hamakua 4-H Club, was one of four Hawaii 4-H members chosen to represent the 10,000 Hawaii 4-H members at the National 4-H Conference.

The conference was in March at the National 4-H Center in Washington D.C. The Hawaii delegation discussed issues regarding education and youth with Sen. Daniel Akaka and Congresswoman Mazie Hirono while on Capitol Hill. The delegates also met with the staff of Senator Inouye and visited the House of Representatives while touring the Capitol building. The Hawaii team taught a leadership workshop to conference delegates from the other U.S. states and Puerto Rico.

The four Hawaii 4-H members were selected to attend the conference based on their leadership in 4-H, schools and community, and their plans to get additional young people involved in the 4-H program.

Other members of the Hawaii delegation were: Roosevelt High freshman Denika Martin from the Leprechauns 4-H club in Honolulu, Radford High junior Meko Thompson from the Aliamanu 4-H Club in Honolulu, and Kapaa High junior Ty Nakamoto from the Kauai Livestock 4-H Club.

The national conference convenes 4-H youth with adult youth development professionals and volunteers to learn and share information on current trends and/or issues relevant to 4-H and youth, building effective partnerships, creating innovative 4-H programs, expanding the use of technology, working with diverse groups and impacting community needs.

The conference, which included approximately 300 youth from across the country, brings together the resources of the 4-H program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Land-Grant University System, Cooperative Extension Services and other partners involved in building and sustaining effective programs for youth.