Student explores wonders of technology

By Daniel Wolowiczdanielw@theacorn.com

Scott Laskey Scott Laskey talks about nanobots, digital sound processing and advanced computer animation as if it’s no big deal that at 17years-old he’s already thinking about the next generation of technology.

Laskey’s interest in the evolution of the digital world earned him a spot among nearly 1,500 students from across the United States to participate in the National Youth Leadership Forum on Technology. The conference took place from June 27 to July 6.

During the 10-day conference hosted in the heart of the Silicon Valley, students listened to lectures from industry leaders, previewed the newest advances in computer science and visited college campuses and technology companies.

“The company I visited was the NASA-Ames Research Center,” Laskey said. “They showed us the prototype of a new airplane they’ll be using in the next couple of years.”

Laskey said he attended lectures by Shawn Fanning, founder of Napster; Helen Grenier, chairman and co-founder of iRobot; Jaron Lanier, virtual reality pioneer; and Guy Kawasaki, cofounder of Garage Technology Ventures.

“Lanier coined the phrase ‘virtual reality,’” Laskey said. “And I really enjoyed his speech on virtual reality…but the most interesting speech was Guy Kawasaki’s. He gave a slide show called ‘The Ten Rules for the Young Revolutionary,’ which basically gave us ten things we needed to know about starting our own business.”

As part of the event, Laskey was required to work in a six-person group and discuss a new technology that has the potential of becoming a reality within the next 10 years.

Laskey’s group spent five days addressing their topic of public health, developing their vision to use nanobot technology to help combat cancer. A nanobot is a microscopic robot.

Not all of Laskey’s activities required such deep thinking. Laskey said he attended a San Francisco Giants baseball game, an IMAX movie and took part in casino and movie nights hosted by the conference organizers.

“It was a little weird the first few days being away from home,” Laskey said. “But I got used to it really fast and it was cool hanging out with the other students there.”

Laskey was nominated to attend the conference by Randall McLelland, a counselor at Oak Park High School.

To qualify, students must maintain a high grade point average, demonstrate leadership ability and have an interest in technology.

As the co-tech director for the high school, Laskey helps manage the school’s website. He is also the technology commissioner for the student government and helped found the Crew Club, an ad-hoc technology club.

“As always, it’s the students that make these programs work,” said Rebecca Mason, the program’s director of media relations. “Technology-minded students like Scott ask questions, interact with each other, attend the lectures and are at the heart of what really makes this event successful.”

Laskey, who will be a senior next year, says he may attend Moorpark College once he graduates from high school. Although Laskey says he would like a career in technology, he’s not quite sure exactly which field he will pursue.

Originally from Palmdale, Laskey and his family eventually moved to Oak Park in the late 1990s. He lives with his mother, Madelyn; his father, David; and his 13-year-old sister, Britney.

When not working on the computer, Laskey said he likes to hang out with his friends and his girlfriend, watch movies, practice the guitar and play video games.

Founded in 1992, the National Youth Leadership organization is based in Washington, D.C. and offers forums on diplomacy, law, medicine, nursing and technology. This is the forum’s third year in San Jose and was previously hosted in Austin, Texas.

For more information, visit www.nylf.org.