Olivia Raber is a West Virginia finalist in the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). She is a junior at Parkersburg South High School and plans to attend college to major in criminal justice and minor in political science. Raber also plans to pursue a doctorate in law, hoping to join a large law firm or her family’s firm.
Raber consistently challenges herself in a plethora of ways. She, on a whim, applied for the Yale Young Global Scholars and was accepted. Being accepted inspired her to apply for the USSYP. Presently, Raber holds the following leadership positions:
- President, West Virginia State Student Council
- Junior Class President, Parkersburg South High School
- Public Relations Head, Parkersburg South High School Student Council
- Historian, Parkersburg South High School National Honor Society
All finalists were asked why they should be chosen to represent West Virginia.
“I believe I should be chosen for a number of reasons, but most importantly because I am incredibly driven. Once I have my mind set on something, I will do everything to achieve that goal,” said Raber. “If I am chosen as one of the delegates, I will represent our state to the best of my abilities while gathering knowledge to bring back to our community. Even once the program ends, I will apply the knowledge I obtain to my life and the lives of others.”
Raber spends most of her time outside of school volunteering. She has volunteered with the Wood County Society, a nonprofit helping those with developmental and intellectual disabilities, for the last six years. Raber has also been in theater for the past seven years. As a State Thespian Officer, Raber has joined the International Thespian Student Leadership Council as the West Virginia state representative.