Nine WHS students have committed to serve on the first-ever Wenatchee Junior City Council as seven voting council members and two alternates. 

The idea to form a Junior City Council (JCC) in Wenatchee took shape when then-WHS junior Luisanna Esquivel asked city council member Charlie Atkinson how students could become more involved in the community. Atkinson had previously learned of a successful JCC operating in Auburn, Washington, and pitched the idea to Luisanna.

“She was quite interested,” Atkinson said of Luisanna’s involvement. Together with fellow WHS junior Alex Reeg, Luisanna made contact with the JCC in Auburn, collaborated with Atkinson to develop the Wenatchee JCC, and spoke at a City Council meeting in July, where the council unanimously approved an ordinance establishing the Wenatchee Junior City Council. Atkinson emphasized that “without Luisanna and Alex, we would not have pursued this.” 

This new Junior City Council is intended to engage high school students in local governance, civic responsibility, and leadership development. The program provides students with hands-on experience in municipal government and allows them to voice their perspectives, contribute to community projects, and gain an understanding of policy-making. Wenatchee city code states that the JCC will advise “on youth aspects of all city functions, including but not limited to finance, public works, parks, recreation, cultural services, community development, information technology, public safety, and human resources.”

The creation of a JCC promises ample real-world learning opportunities for students throughout Wenatchee in government, public policy, public speaking, community engagement, and so much more. WHS is grateful to the Wenatchee City Council members, mayor, city administrator, and everyone who has supported this opportunity for students to become more involved in our greater Wenatchee community. 

Congratulations to the selected students: 

• Luisanna Esquivel (12), Position 1
• Alexander Reeg (12), Position 2
• Jessie Evans (11), Position 3
• Betzy Espinoza (10), Position 4
• Isabella Garcia (11), Position 5
• Marina Esquivel Garibay (12), Position 6
• Anais Velazquez (11), Position 7
• Brayah Maughan (10), Alternate
• Xiyun Tang (9), Alternate