MHS’ Calderwood invited to international summit

Love for making movies and documentary films have always been one of Marianas High School student Heather Calderwood’s passions.

She therefore got the thrill of her life when she was invited to participate in a world-renowned summit that is celebrating five decades of international exchanges.

Calderwood will join a select group of students representing their respective schools and states as People to People student leaders.

According to a media release from People to People International, which office is based in Kansas City, Missouri, Calderwood has recently been accepted into the People to People Future Leaders Summit on Theater and the Arts in New York set for June 19 to 28 of this year.

“All students accepted into a People to People program must meet rigorous academic and leadership requirements,” said the news release, which added that Calderwood was nominated and accepted based on her outstanding scholastic merit, civic involvement, and leadership potential.

The People to People Future Leaders Summit will tackle issues on law, medicine, leadership, theater and the arts, and international diplomacy. It aims to bring together outstanding student leaders from around the globe to focus on leadership, team building, community service, college admissions, and professional aspirations.

People to People organizers said the students would work on an action plan to make a difference in their communities, develop skills to help them lead tomorrow’s world, and build their college resumes, while earning academic or service-learning credit.

Calderwood said she was surprised as well as thrilled with her selection for the summit. She said she has worked hard for all the achievements she has reaped. She said her love for filmmaking must have added to her qualifications.

The participants to the summit, said the organizer, would also gain insights to guide their educational and professional careers and benefit from a strong focus on college admissions.

“Through workshops, presentations, excursions and discussions, student leaders attain a clear advantage as they pursue and fine tune their selected fields of interest.”

Calderwood and the rest of the delegates will also have the opportunity to meet with admissions officers and gain valuable advice for navigating the college application process. Some students will also have the chance to visit several area universities.

The MHS student will meet with other participants from Columbia University, Georgetown University, John Hopkins University, University of California, Los Angeles, and Stanford University.

Calderwood is the daughter of James and Denise Calderwood. She has a twin sister, Megan, and an older brother Garret. All of them go to the same high school. (Marconi Calindas)