Daniel Johnson, 17, right, sits with school counselor Laura Fritz at Ridgeland High School on Friday. Johnson is one of two Georgians selected to the United States Senate Youth Program. He is a junior class president and is in the Ridgeland Honors Academy.A Ridgeland High School junior is one of two Georgia youths selected for a prestigious program that includes among its alumni New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Republican strategist Karl Rove.
Daniel Johnson will participate in the 50th annual United States Senate Youth Program, whose 104 student delegates each receive a $5,000 college scholarship and a free trip to Washington, D.C., in March. They will spend a week in the nation’s capital, intensively studying the federal government and meeting with officials including senators, a U.S. Supreme Court justice and President Barack Obama.
“He’s one of the best students I’ve ever had,” said Ryan Bandy, a history teacher and chairman of the Ridgeland Honors Academy, a school within the high school whose 200 students take honors and Advanced Placement classes.
Bandy said Johnson has “a natural interest in learning. Besides that, you’re not going to meet anyone who’s better liked and more respected [by students and staff].”
Johnson is quick to credit his success to the honors academy.
“It has been vital in opening up every opportunity that has been presented to me so far,” said Johnson, who entered the academy as a freshman and will be among its first graduating class. “It’s been very, very important. I’m very thankful to have it.”
Johnson has a long list of accomplishments. He’s the junior class president, a captain on the varsity football and baseball teams and is active in many extracurricular activities, including serving as president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Guidance counselor Laura Fritz proctored the test that Johnson took to qualify for the program.
“He’s one of probably the top three kids I’ve ever worked with in my life,” Fritz said. “You talk about well-rounded, interested, intelligent — he has the full package.”
When he gets to college, Johnson plans to major in economics and minor in religion, hoping to become a lawyer or businessman. He said he may run for local public office, something he got a taste of while spending a day with Chattanooga City Councilman Manny Rico, who’s a member of Johnson’s church.
The United States Senate Youth Program has been funded entirely by the Hearst Foundations since its inception and has more than 5,000 alumni.