Name: Charlene Ignacio
Age: 17
School: Aiea High
Pastime: Judo
Future: Teacher

She's been working out details of an upcoming summit with legislative staffers.

The Aiea High School senior is gearing up for the first Hawaii State Students Governance Summit on Jan. 29-31. She is one of two central district representatives.

She is also president of the Peer Education Program and was instrumental in starting Na Koa, a campus group that encourages students to help themselves and others.

Ignacio is rarely idle. She's either busy interning with state Rep. K. Mark Takai's office, addressing teen pregnancy as a member of the Central Community Planning Team or doing her duty as a School to Work board member.

Ignacio wants to be a teacher someday. Educators say the student already is that.

"She has this very mature ability to include others," said Iris Tamayose, the School to Work opportunities coordinator. "Charlene believes in the potential of all her peers, that all students can contribute and become leaders."

Ignacio, who plans to get an English degree from Brigham Young University, said being the older sibling and having gone through some trying times with her parents' separation has made her resilient.

"Being the eldest, you assume the responsibility to make sure that everything's in order. Because of that, in school I take the responsibility to include students and help them realize their full potential."