Nineteen high school students from across Yolo County have been appointed to serve as youth leaders dedicated to elevating student voice, strengthening leadership skills and supporting youth-led community engagement. Photo courtesy of YCOE

WOODLAND, CA (MPG) - The Yolo County Office of Education (YCOE) is proud to announce the selection of the 2026-27 Yolo Youth Commission. Nineteen high school students from across Yolo County have been appointed to serve as youth leaders dedicated to elevating student voice, strengthening leadership skills and supporting youth-led community engagement. 

As one of their first initiatives, Youth Commissioners are helping launch a new opportunity for local high school students. Registration is now open for the inaugural Summer Leadership Camp, a free three-day experience designed to bring together student leaders in Yolo County to build friendships, strengthen leadership skills and explore ways to make a positive impact in their schools and communities. 

“The new Youth Commissioners represent the voices, ideas and leadership of students across Yolo County,” said Edwin Ortega Beltran, YCOE's youth development program specialist. “They're not only developing their own leadership skills; they are creating opportunities for other students to grow alongside them. The Summer Leadership Camp is designed to connect young people from different schools, help them learn from one another, and inspire them to bring new ideas back to their campuses.”

The Summer Leadership Camp will be held July 21-23, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day at the Yolo County Office of Education Conference Center in Woodland. Participation is free for all Yolo County high school students. 

Throughout the three-day experience, students will participate in interactive workshops, team-building challenges and sessions led by community leaders. Whether students currently serve in Associated Student Body (ASB), Link Crew, Future Farmers of America (FFA), athletics, clubs, or other leadership roles, the camp offers an opportunity to develop practical leadership skills, expand their network and connect with peers from across Yolo County. 

Youth Commissioners will serve a one-year term from May 2026 through May 2027, committing approximately five to ten hours each month to youth leadership initiatives and community engagement activities. 

The 19 members appointed to the Yolo Youth Commission are: Abigail B., 10th-grade student at Davis Senior High School in Davis; Adalyn S., ninth-grade student at River City High School in West Sacramento; Alejandro R., 11th-grade student at Winters High School in Winters; Alliyah B., 10th-grade student at Winters High School in Winters; Alton Z., 10th-grade student at Davis Senior High School in Davis; Athena K., 10th-grade student at Davis Senior High School in Davis; Dalia A., ninth-grade student at Da Vinci Charter Academy in Davis; Galilea R., ninth-grade student at Winters High School in Winters; Ileya S., 10th-grade student at Pioneer High School in Woodland; Jessica W., 11th-grade student at Davis Senior High School in Davis; Leanna K., 10th-grade student at Davis Senior High School in Davis; Lucy S., 10th-grade student at Davis Senior High School in Davis; Martin N. G., 11th-grade student at Woodland High School in Woodland; Octavio E., 10th-grade student at Esparto High School in Esparto; Parami J., 10th-grade student at Davis Senior High School in Davis; Sherlyn S., 11th-grade student at Davis Senior High School in Davis; Ty M., ninth-grade student at Winters High School in Winters; Vanessa O., 10th-grade student at Saint Francis High School in Sacramento; and Wendell D., 10th-grade student at Da Vinci Charter Academy in Woodland.

Students interested in attending the Summer Leadership Camp can register by visiting www.ycoe.org/youthcommission, where they can also learn more about the Yolo Youth Commission and its initiatives. 

The Yolo County Office of Education provides inspiration, leadership, support, and advocacy to ensure equity and access to high-quality education for all students. For more information, visit www.ycoe.org.