In the summer, some kids go to camp or get part time jobs. Alex Lowry of Covina got to spend 10 days in Washington DC, learning how government works, meeting influential folks and participating in some engaging workshops.

"It's exciting to see him come back from this trip energized and inspired," says mom Andrea Lowry. "He's excited about public service and that's the greatest gift of this trip."

Alex was one of 350 high school students who traveled as part of the National Young Leader Conference, a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization. Alex was picked because of his scholastic merit, community involvement and leadership contributions.

A parishioner at Sacred Heart Church in Covina, Alex has been active in the youth ministry program for the past two years and has helped raised funds for the Camboni Missionaries, among other projects.

As part of the trip, Alex asked questions with a panel of renowned journalists from the Washington press corps, witnessed a senate hearing and met with local congress people. In addition, Alex and his peers participated in a series of workshop simulations involving how the country responds to crisis situations.

According to Andrea, another big plus of the trip was that Alex met people from all cultures and religions. "He made friends with a student from New Jersey who is an Iraqi American Muslim," she says. "It's important for kids to be involved in the process of public service and to see the diversity that is America."