Marcellus O'Connor, son of Jerome and Irma O'Connor, attended the Presidential Classroom Science, Technology & Public Policy Program in Washington, D.C., from June 21 to 28.

A senior at Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, Marcellus was one of 430 high school students from around the U.S. and its territories selected for the program.

The program allowed participants to explore, through various seminars and speakers, how the federal government handles scientific and technological advances. Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway personal transportation device, gave the keynote address.

Marcellus says he also enjoyed the talk by Charles Walker, an astronaut with NASA. Students toured the Pentagon—which is off-limits to the public—and observed a vote on Medicare in the House of Representatives. Before the vote, Marcellus met Anna Eshoo, the U.S. representative for California's 14th Congressional District.

Marcellus is a member of the Civil Air Patrol, an auxiliary of the Air Force that trains teens in emergency services, including search and rescue. He has also served as a class representative at Saint Francis for three years, and participates in several sports, including his school's track and cross-country teams.

After graduation, Marcellus hopes to attend the Air Force Academy.