Oliver Russell ’28 Named Ohio Attorney General Teen Ambassador
Moeller student Oliver Russell '28 has been selected to serve as a teen ambassador for the Ohio Attorney General, giving him the opportunity to work alongside other Ohio students to identify challenges facing teens and develop potential solutions.
Russell was selected through an open application process that required applicants to submit a recommendation letter and respond to questions about issues they see in their communities and how they would work to address them. For one of the application prompts, Russell was able to draw on research he completed in Mr. Eric Eble’s AP Seminar class.
“I was able to use my IWA (individual written argument), which I wrote in Mr. Eble’s class for AP Seminar,” Russell said.
During his one-year term, Russell will participate in multiple meetings with fellow Teen Ambassadors and members of the Ohio Attorney General’s office. Working in small groups with guidance from assistant attorneys general, the students will research challenges affecting teens, examine their impact, and identify potential solutions.
The program will also include mini summits focused on topics such as drug abuse and human trafficking awareness. Russell will have opportunities to meet elected officials, hear from scientists and administrators, and build relationships with other student leaders from across Ohio.
Russell attended his first meeting on October 5, where he had the opportunity to meet Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson and learn more about his career in law and public service. Wilson spoke with the students about why he became an attorney, what his role involves, and what he enjoys about his work.
The students were also introduced to their subcommittees, where they will identify issues affecting their communities and submit ideas for consideration. Five ideas will ultimately be selected, and the students will choose a topic to research and develop potential solutions for. “It’s a great opportunity to get to know the other members of the board and solve problems in my community,” Russell said.
The day also included a tour of the Ohio Statehouse, giving Russell an opportunity to learn more about Ohio history and see firsthand where important decisions affecting the state are made.
The experience has been especially meaningful for Russell as he considers his own future. He hopes to become a lawyer one day, although he is still exploring which area of law he would like to pursue. “Overall, it was extremely beneficial to me,” Russell said. “I learned a lot about what it means to be an attorney, what to do before law school, and more things that make me want to become an attorney even more.”
For Russell, serving as a teen ambassador is providing more than an opportunity to learn about government and the legal profession. It is giving him a chance to collaborate with other young leaders, engage with issues impacting his generation, and begin developing the skills he hopes to use in a future career in law.
“It was a great experience, and I’m looking forward to the next meeting!”