Politically Active Senior Named Student Rep to LCUSD

Clad in a dark-colored business suit, Alex Keledjian is often found in the audience during governing board meetings of the

But starting in November, you'll find the school senior on the dais, behind the name plate "Student Representative.''

School officials named Keledjian last week to the spot for the 2011-12 school year. The politically active senior already serves on the city's Youth Council, is the president of the Young Republicans of La Cañada Flintridge and, alongside fellow LCHS senior Kevork Kurdoghlian, is co-campaign manager for school board candidate Ernest Koeppen.

"Alex is an enthusiastic and active young man who is eager to serve his school and community,'' said Victor Torres, Associated Student Body Advisor for La Cañada High School.

The criteria for selecting the school board student representative are: the student must be a senior at La Canada High School and he or she must be available to attend all of the school board meetings, Torres explained.

Students apply by writing a letter to the ASB advisor, essentially, explaining why they would like to become the representative. After reviewing the application letters, officials select a few students to be interviewed. Torres declined to say how many students applied this year.

The student representative reports to all school sites of LCUSD to gather any news and reports his or her findings to the school board at the meeting. From there, Keledjian will debrief ASB of any new information gathered from the school sites or learned at the board meeting. Essentially, the student school board representative acts as a liaison to the board, the various school sites, and ASB, Torres said.

A Few Questions for Alex:

Why did you want to be student rep for the board?

Because I want to help my community as much as possible. I am currently a member of the Youth Council for the City of La Cañada Flintridge, which is a city commission that uses taxpaying dollars to benefit the youth of La Cañada Flintridge. From that angle, I am trying to help the youth in city politics. [Having been chosen as the representative] I will try to help my fellow classmates as much as possible on the School Board.

[Prior to being named Student Representative I tried] to attend as many school board meeting as possible, and i do understand the issues of the district, so i do believe that i am the best choice for the job. 

I've seen you a few times at meetings and you always look so professional, clad in a suit--do you wear suits fairly often?

I actually do. Every week, there always seems to be a political event or meeting. If i were to dress like a typical high school student, how can i have anyone take me seriously?

What political aspirations do you have after high school?

I am keeping my options open. If i believe that my services are need in the community, then i will run for the office in which my services are needed.