James Reavis isn't counting on high school to prepare him for the real world. He already lives there.
Instead, he's using his real-world experiences to make his high school and high schools across the nation a little bit better.
Reavis, 17, owns the computer consulting business CtrlAltDel. He was elected to serve as the Webmaster for the state student council organization and will do the same job next year at the national level.
"It's really going to be a team effort that puts the Web site together and produces it," he said. "We're going to make it everything it can be. I'm really looking forward to it."
Reavis, Carson High School's school board representative, will travel to New York with five fellow student-council officers for the national convention June 25 to July 2.
"It's the most prestigious conference you can go to in student council," said student body secretary Tori Skudlarek. "If student council had Olympics, this would be it.
"It's really exciting."
Skudlarek will team up with Jeremiah Schenzel, junior class president, to present a workshop on "The Power of Positive Motivation."
In addition to educating his peers about motivation techniques, Schenzel plans to learn from his associates.
"You definitely gain a sense of how to help the community," he said. "We only have one high school here so we need to know how to work well together."
Junior class president Devon Anderson and representative Danielle Pringle will present the workshop "Your Own Person."
"Our workshop teaches how to find your own personality and using it to become a better leader," she explained. "Without that, you'll just follow other people, and you won't be able to make your own difference."
Student body president Maria Urbina was elected president of the state student council and will travel to nationals to get tips on how to run her school and the state.
"I love it," she said of her position as state student council president. "The most important thing I'm learning is how to be more professional."
It's something she hopes will help her pursue a political science degree after high school.
The students are raising money for their trip and asking for donations from local businesses.
They are planning a fund-raiser car wash Sunday and hope to raise $500 each.
Anderson said it is a worthwhile effort.
"Student council helps build leaders and teaches you how to interact with other people," he said. "It will make us more successful in the future."
You Can Help:
To make a donation for the trip, send money to Carson High School, 1111 Saliman Road, Carson City, NV 89701.
If You Go:
What: Car wash
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday
Where: Lowe's parking lot, 444 Fairview Dr.
Cost: $5