Douglas student off to nation's capital

Gardnerville resident Dachelle Doyal said her daughter, 17-year-old Julia Callahan, has always had an itch to travel and explore the world.

"She's never been afraid to try something," Doyal said. "She has this vision of what she wants, and she doesn't let anything stop here."

Callahan, now a senior at Douglas High School, will be one of 102 students from across the country traveling to Washington, D.C., at the end of the month for the two-week-long Congressional Academy for American History and Civics.

"It will my first time to Washington, D.C.," Callahan said. "I've never been past Illinois. I really want to see where the nation was born."

Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the academy immerses a select group of students, two from each state and two from the District of Columbia, into the wellsprings of American history. From the fields of Gettysburg to the many monuments of Washington, students will see up close and personal the birthplace of American democracy.

But the academy is more than a tour guide. Students will also participate in daily lectures and discussions, studying three historical periods in particular: the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and the Civil Rights Movement. Completion of the academy counts for three college credits.

"History has always been my best subject in school," said Callahan, a self-described history buff. "It's easy for me to learn and remember things."

Callahan discovered the academy through the Upward Bound program at the University of Nevada, Reno. She was selected from a pool of hundreds of students across the country. Students where picked for their GPA, test scores and recommendations.

"I get to be there for the Fourth of July," Callahan said. "I hope to be able to understand even more about our government, about our nation."

The young student is looking forward to seeing all the sites, but is especially excited about seeing the Library of Congress.

"I love reading, so it's going to be amazing to see that kind of library," she said.

Callahan contends that the study of history is critical to society.

"It's very important," she said. "It shows us how we got where we are. We can use it to learn from the past, so we don't make the same mistakes in the future."

Although excited about the trip, Callahan is a little nervous about flying across the country by herself.

"It's scary for any kid to fly alone," said Doyal. "But she'll be fine. She'll have her cell phone and lots of books. I'm very proud of her."