Dawson County High School student Kelton Auvermann has been selected to attend a six-day program in the nation's capital as part of the National Youth Leadership Forum on National Security: Exploring American Diplomacy, Intelligence and Defense.

Auvermann, 17, is one of an outstanding group of national high school students that will take part in the unique career development program designed to introduce students to the challenging careers in national security, intelligence and with the diplomatic corps.

"Through specialized simulations, the National Youth Leadership Forum strives to put students in the driver's seat of building a strategy that will uphold our national security," said Dr. Marguerite Regan, dean of academic affairs for National Youth Leadership Forum. "The combination of interacting with professionals and with other students in this setting ensures that leaders are being developed so the future of our country will remain bright."

The forum is associated with George Mason University located in Fairfax, Va. which graduates many leaders that have gone on to careers in national security, the intelligence community and diplomacy.

The students will visit a number of key institutions while in Washington D.C., including the Pentagon, The Department of State and the Central Intelligence Agency along with several embassies and military facilities.

Students interact with highly respected, internationally recognized policy makers and senior military personnel while participating in crisis decision-making exercises as part of the six-day event.

Auvermann, a junior at Dawson County High School was selected because of his academic record, his interest in international affairs and his experiences while living abroad.

He joins more than 50,000 young people that have attended Forum programs since it was founded in 1992.

"The National Youth Leadership Forum is an educational organization established to help prepare extraordinary young people for their professional careers," Regan said.

The curriculum for the forum is based on actual world events.

Throughout the program, students use critical thinking, leadership and public speaking skills to tackle the complexity of national decision-making as the students examine how the U.S. plans for peace and prepares for crisis.

Auvermann is the son of Charlie and Bindy Auvermann of Dawson County, both of whom were closely linked to many U.S. agencies while working abroad.