CINCINNATI – The Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC recently honored two local high school students by naming them to the 2018-2019 Smithsonian Secretary's Youth Advisory Council.
Mya Dunn, a sophomore at Saint Ursula Academy, and Chase Pope, a senior at Walnut Hills High School, participated in their first meeting of the advisory council on Wednesday.
Mya Dunn
Smithsonian Secretary David Skorton established the council in 2016 as a way to gain the perspectives of young people regarding various issues and to help guide the work of the Institution, according to the Smithsonian's website.
The Smithsonian selected Dunn and Pope to serve on the council based on their volunteer work as youth docents at National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. The students serve as guides at the museum, which is located at 50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown.
Chase Pope
Dunn and Pope are serving on the Smithsonian's council with eight other young people from five affiliated museums from across the country and 10 students selected from the Washington DC area.
"We are incredibly proud of Mya and Chase," says Tara Riley, Senior Director of Museum Experiences at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. "Their leadership skills and enthusiasm make them an excellent addition to the Smithsonian Secretary’s Youth Advisory Council. Mya and Chase will represent the museum well and contribute greatly to the Smithsonian."
