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Palo Alto Youth Council
Become and advocate for your community. Join and start making a difference in your community!
Overview
The Palo Alto Youth Council (PAYC) is a group of 15-20 highly dedicated high school students who serve as youth ambassadors to the City Council. Their purpose is to foster communications and connections between teens and the greater Palo Alto community. To achieve its mission statement, PAYC is actively engaged in the community and identifies and addresses the key concerns that teenagers face.
Some of the programs PAYC has implemented in recent years include the 'Escaping Vaping', 'College Admissions after COVID', 'Finals Study Cram Slam', 'Palopalooza', as well as teen surveys and community service events. The PAYC is a great opportunity for high school students to conduct themselves as professionals and grants them the freedom to take on active leadership roles.
Palo Alto Youth Council Members 25 - 26
Maddie Park
President
Hi! My name is Maddie Park. I'm super excited to serve as your PAYC President this year, and I look forward to crafting creative solutions to Palo Alto teens' concerns. In particular, I hope to increase mental health awareness and youth civic engagement. In my free time, I enjoy visiting my favorite Asian dessert shops!
Vin Bhat
Vice President
Hi everyone! I'm Vin, a junior at Gunn. I look forward to serving as the VP of PAYC this year. I'm extremely passionate about boosting youth civic engagement, and love past PAYC events such as Pancakes and Pickleball.
Sarah Grupenhoff
Secretary
Hello! My name is Sarah Grupenhoff, and I’m currently a junior at Gunn High School. I’m delighted to be returning to the Palo Alto Youth Council this year and am particularly looking forward to continuing advocacy for greater youth civic engagement in our community. In my free time, I enjoy reading, drinking absurd amounts of coffee, and volunteering with a nonprofit that supports the Palo Alto City Library.
Averie Chiang
Public Information Officer
I'm a sophomore at The Nueva School, and I’m thrilled to be a part of PAYC this year! I hope to expand our reach in the Palo Alto teen community through fun reels/posts, and I'm super excited to bring to life the new initiatives for the year. In my free time, I enjoy exercising, hanging out with friends, and playing with my dog Coco.
Charlotte Liu
Public Information Officer
My name is Charlotte Liu, and I'm a junior at Palo Alto High School. I'm excited to be part of the PAYC this year and hope to contribute to civic engagement initiatives while connecting with other Bay Area teens! During my free time, I like to listen to video game soundtracks, read, and make digital art.
Camille Chu
Outreach Specialist
Hi, I'm Camille! I am super excited to serve my second year on the Palo Alto Youth Council. This year, I hope we can address important issues, such as mental health stigma and civic engagement, while collaborating closely with the city council to inform policy decisions. I'm especially passionate about advocating for gender and racial equity, and I look forward to making a meaningful impact in the community through our events and initiatives
Akira Ohyabu
Member
I am thrilled to be a part of PAYC this year! I am especially passionate about addressing issues surrounding youth civic engagement and mental health. In my free time, I love to read and spend time with my family and friends.
Anh-Khue Nguyen
Member
Hi, I'm Anh-Khue, and I am a sophomore at Castilleja School. I enjoy swimming, reading mystery novels, and watching Sherlock. I'm so excited to serve PAYC this year.
Anjali Ambati
Member
Hi, my name is Anjali Ambati, and I am a sophomore at Castilleja. I am beyond thrilled to collaborate with a dedicated teen group that focuses on real issues that matter to the Palo Alto youth and improves teen recognition in our community. I am also passionate about violin, science (especially biology!), playing volleyball, and writing poetry.
Audrey Ng
Member
Hi, my name is Audrey, and I'm a freshman at Castilleja! I love playing flag football, lacrosse, and the guitar. I'm really excited to be on the Palo Alto Youth Council because I want to make a positive change in our community!
Charlie Zeitlin
Member
My name is Charlie Zeitlin, and I am a sophomore at Crystal Springs Uplands School. I host the “Straight To It” podcast, where I have interviewed more than 73 leaders in business, entertainment, and sports. I am also a TEDx organizer and hosted TEDx Baylands Park Youth in April 2024. In my free time, I enjoy reading, playing squash, participating in mock trial, and watching Formula 1 races, all while spending time with my two dogs, Bodhi and Sadie.
Chloe Hong
Member
Hi my name is Chloe Hong and I’m a freshman at Gunn High School. I’ve lived in Palo Alto my whole life and I’m excited to be a part of PAYC this year to give back to my community. I can’t wait to be able to be a voice for many youth and teens here in Palo Alto.
David Wu
Member
My name is David Wu and I am a Senior at Palo Alto High School. I am passionate about civic engagement and higher education. In my free time, I enjoy reading and coding.
Dolly Wu
Member
Hi! My name is Dolly Wu and I'm a Senior at Gunn. I'm super honored and excited to be able to serve on the council this year to continue to advocate for mental health awareness and promote civic engagement. Aside from politics, I am very passionate about music, philosophy, and theology!
Ellen Kim
Member
Hi! I'm Ellen Kim and I am super excited to be a part of PAYC this term. I am very passionate in advocating for mental health and I'm excited to be a voice representing Palo Alto.
Elsa Lagerblad
Member
Elsa is a senior at Palo Alto High School. She is the captain of her debate team and also a member of the Youth Climate Advisory Board. Her main areas of interest are civic engagement and community building
Emily Shi
Member
I'm currently a junior at Gunn High School, and I'm incredibly excited to be a part of the Palo Alto Youth Council this year.
Jonathan Tsai
Member
Hi, my name is Jonathan Tsai and I'm excited to be on the Palo Alto Youth Council, representing teens throughout the city. A junior at Gunn High School, this is my first year on the council and I'm looking forward to advocating for my peers and making a positive impact on the community.
Kiana Doshi
Member
Hi! My name is Kiana, and I am a sophomore at the Nueva High School in San Mateo. I love spending time outside, whether it is camping or hiking, and one of my favorite hikes to do is the Stanford Dish trail. In my free time, I do A LOT of baking, listening to music, reading, and playing tennis.
May Chen
Member
Hi, my name is May, and I am a sophomore at Castilleja School. I am excited to serve PAYC this year. I enjoy reading, art, and rewatching Gilmore Girls.
McKenna Chang
Member
Hi, my name is McKenna and I'm so excited to be on the council this year. I'm looking forward to meeting new community members, PAYC events, and new initiatives. In my free time I enjoy dancing and playing tennis.
Michael Matta
Member
I'm a senior at Henry M. Gunn High School, and I am excited for my third year on the council! As a part of the PAYC, I want to focus on community outreach with teens in Palo Alto. In my free time, I like to sing and watch movies.
Mira McInerney
Member
I'm a freshman at Castilleja School, and I'm excited to be on PAYC this year! In my free time, I like to play sports and spend time with my family and friends! As a part of the PAYC, I want to focus on the mental health issue among teens in Palo Alto.
Reed Truong
Member
I'm a junior at Palo Alto High School passionate about teen mental health and allergen awareness in our community. Outside of PAYC, I’m part Paly Robotics and love trying new boba spots around the Bay Area.
Ruddra Gupta
Member
Hi! My name is Ruddhra, and I am a senior at Gunn High School. I am very excited to work with PAYC this year and help make our community better for all teens. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, watching cricket, and spending time with my family and friends!
Saina Priyadarshi
Member
I'm a sophomore at Castilleja School, and I'm so excited to be a member of PAYC this upcoming year! As a passionate advocate for youth civic engagement, I aim to help address the challenges faced by Palo Alto teens, particularly in the realm of youth participation in policy-making. In my spare time, I enjoy playing volleyball, baking, and bullet journaling. I’m looking forward to collaborating with others to better the Palo Alto community this year!
Steven Liu
Member
I’m a freshman at Palo Alto High School, and I’m excited to be part of Youth Council this year. Outside of school, I play soccer (I’m a team captain), sing in choir, and practice karate. As a member, I hope to address e-bike safety in the Palo Alto teen community by raising awareness and finding solutions that make riding safer for everyone.
Tehyun Lee
Member
Hello! I'm a sophomore at Henry M. Gunn High School and I'm excited to make a difference through the Palo Alto Youth Council. This year, I'm looking forward to giving teens a voice in community issues like providing more academic and mental health resources. Outside of school, I enjoy playing the violin, taking walks, and petting my cats
Teja Wolfe
Member
I am a sophomore at Palo Alto High School and I am thrilled to be a part of PAYC this year. I look forward to helping teens and giving back to the community of Palo Alto. In my free time I play flag football and read comics.
01
How to become a member
Submit a completed application via online form
Applications will be reviewed and interviews will be scheduled with enthusiastic and eligible candidates
02
Attend and pass an interview with the committee
Applicants are required to attend and pass an interview with the nominating committee
03
Applications, Letter of Recommendations, and Video
Applications, including a letter of recommendation, and introductory video, will be accepted NO LATER than the scheduled deadline. Any applications that are missing any of the following including an interview will not be considered for membership
Returning members are exempt from providing a Letter of Recommendation, and their previous term's contribution will be used instead.