Lumpkin County High School student and Dawsonville resident Madison Coker recently attended a national leadership forum in Washington, D.C.

Coker, 16, is a rising junior and was nominated for the program, Envision's National Youth Leadership Forum on Law and CSI, due to her interest in forensic science by her teachers at LCHS.

The forum ran from July 9-13.

"During this program I participated in many workshops that included forensic simulations, presentations by lawyers and college professors and problem-solving tasks," Coker said. "We [also] had the opportunity to visit George Mason University campus and learn more about college admissions."

The group also visited Capitol Hill, where they explored the nation's government buildings and learned more about the role of forensics in the Supreme Court.

At the end of the week, participants toured the National Mall and visited the Smithsonian Museum and national monuments.

According to a release from organizers of the experience, the forum is based on actual events and takes students through intensive simulations and the examples set by attorneys of law and court officials, from municipal court to the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as forensic science professionals.

"Students gain confidence and new perspectives on justice as they see how court cases often change the legal system," the release reads.

"This is where the future begins to take shape from many students," said Andrew Potter, chief academic officer for the National Youth Leadership Forum: Law and CSI. "The forum provides a valuable opportunity to learn from partners at law firms, forensic pathologists, criminal defense attorneys, prosecutors, professors and experts in the legal profession."

"During this experience, I made many new friends from around the country," Coker said. "It was interesting learning about perspectives from other parts of the United States. I learned more about myself and my abilities throughout this experience."

Coker said she looks forward to participating in the Envision program again next summer, this time in the Medical field.