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May 31, 2002/Sivan 20 5762, Vol. 54, No. 37
Teen prepares for summer in court
BETH OLSON
Staff Writer
As summer approaches and many teens are planning to spend their days sleeping in and hanging out by the pool, Brandon Lawrence is preparing to travel to Washington, D.C.
Lawrence, 17, a resident of Cave Creek and a junior at Pinnacle High School, will take part in the National Student Leadership Conference on Law & Advocacy July 4-14.
The conference is an opportunity for 2,000 gifted high school students from around the world to attend leadership workshops, listen to guest speakers and participate in a mock trial. According to the NSLC, the purpose of the program is to "identify and recognize outstanding young leaders from around the world, and to provide them with a unique learning environment that encourages not only academic achievement, but also diversity, cooperation and social responsibility."
Lawrence, who was recently elected senior class vice president for the upcoming school year, says he's recently become interested in a career in law.
"All my life I wanted a career in medicine, but lately I've had a change of heart," he explains.
In addition to attending the conference in Washington, Lawrence will travel with his mother, Meryl Lawrence, this summer to visit New York University, Brandeis University and Boston University. Despite the trip to visit the prestigious universities, Lawrence says he's leaning toward attending the University of Arizona after he graduates "because it's not too far from home."
While maintaining a 4.3 grade point average at Pinnacle High School, Lawrence has stayed active in a variety of activities during the school year. He is a member of National Honor Society and is a member of the school's student government, serving as chairman of school assemblies. Lawrence also participated in Habitat for Humanity this year, building a home for a family in need.
"It's really cool. You get to work alongside people you would normally not work with and so you meet a lot of new people and help out a family doing it," he says.
Lawrence also keeps busy with his job at an after-school program at Campo Bello Elementary School, teaching sports and games to children in first through sixth grades. In the two years Lawrence has been at Campo Bello, he has developed a mentor relationship with a sixth-grade student. Lawrence says the boy doesn't see his parents often and lives with his grandmother, so Lawrence takes the boy on weekend outings.
"He's a cool kid and I'm helping him out ... to keep him out of trouble," he explains.
Lawrence and his mother are members of Har Zion Congregation, where Law-rence previously served on the board of the United Synagogue Youth chapter.
Meryl Lawernce, a single parent for 15 years, says her mother, Diana Flax of Carefree, has played an essential role in helping to raise Brandon. "She's been an important part of his life," she says.
Lawrence's father, Brad Lawrence, and half-brother, Jake, live in Michigan.
For more information about NSLC, visit www.nslcleaders.org.
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