Berkeley, USC, Yale? These Simi Valley Students Aren’t Your Average Grads
Daniel Jordan 
Simi Valley Youth Council Members Head to Top Colleges, Celebrated by City Leaders
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — At the June 23 Simi Valley City Council meeting, local leaders paused the evening’s agenda to recognize 15 outgoing members of the city’s Youth Council. Several of the graduating seniors are headed to some of the nation’s top universities, including UC Berkeley, USC, and Yale.
Community Services Coordinator Ryan Fowler presented certificates of appreciation, noting each student’s contributions over the past year. “These individuals have contributed their time and exemplary service on the advisory board to the City Council on youth-related matters,” he told the chamber.
While their college plans reflect individual achievement, their time on the Youth Council shows a shared commitment to civic service. Over the past year, members helped organize a Youth Summit attended by 150 middle and high school students. They also launched the city’s first Youth Impact Forum in partnership with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, focusing on youth substance use prevention.
Their efforts led to practical outcomes, including printing teen crisis hotline numbers on student ID cards for the 2024–25 school year.
Mayor Dee Dee Cavanaugh praised the group during the meeting, saying, “You all do such a wonderful job on our Youth Council. I think we’re the envy of all the cities in the county.”
Youth Council members also planned events like Teen Wellness Night, volunteered at city expos and street fairs, and expanded their annual talent show into a two-night event that nearly sold out.
The City Council meeting made clear: Simi Valley doesn’t just support its youth—it gives them a platform. And for many of these students, that platform has helped launch them toward academic success and broader opportunities.
