Jeffrey St. Cyr, 20, of Alton chairs town's school board

ALTON – JEFFREY ST. CYR, who at the tender age of 20 is both chairman of the Alton School Board and a member of the state Legislature, knows that leadership is about more than just winning elections.

One of his favorite phrases is that of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who said, "We, the people, elect leaders not to rule, but to serve."

"I think we need more open conversation with the citizens in Alton, more of an idea-sharing process," St. Cyr said two years ago when he ran for the school board, and, at the age of 18, became its youngest-ever member.

ST. CYR

And that idea of commitment to community service through working with others to reach an agreement on ways to resolve complex issues has been a hallmark of his approach to life, one in which leadership is a means to achieving an end, not an end itself.

He is currently a sophomore at the University of New Hampshire, where he is majoring in hospitality management, and commutes to campus in order to provide him with time for community involvement.

St. Cyr honed his leadership skills in a number of ways, including his involvement with Boy Scouts and as a delegate to the U.S. Senate Youth Program in 2006.

"This enabled me to get an inside view to the three branches of the U.S. government," said St. Cyr.

Last summer, he was a squad leader for a crew of eight scouts working for a week in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests on trail building and conservation projects.

He is section chief in the Order of the Arrow, overseeing Maine, New Hampshire, and northern Massachusetts and is assistant scoutmaster for Troop 53 in Alton.

He says that one of his biggest challenges is working to get younger people involved in local and state government. "Young adults were active volunteers and excited to vote in the Presidential primary election and the general election, but they also need to understand the importance of voting and participating in town, city, and school district elections," said St. Cyr.

Jeffrey L. St. Cyr

Age: 20

Home: Alton

Birthplace: Nashua

Family: Parents, David and Marilyn St. Cyr; brother, Bryce St. Cyr; sister, Meghan St. Cyr

High school: Prospect Mountain High School, Alton

College/post grad degrees: Current student at University of New Hampshire, hospitality management

Current job: Student at UNH; state representative, New Hampshire House of Representatives

Key past positions held: While at Alton Central School and Prospect Mountain High School, I served as the president for the Class of 2007 for four years. As a student at Prospect Mountain High School, I served as a co-president for the Parent Teacher Student Association. In March 2006, I had the opportunity to represent New Hampshire as a delegate to the U.S. Senate Youth Program. This enabled me to get an inside view to the three branches of the U.S. government. In 2008, I worked as a squad leader for ArrowCorps5, a weeklong opportunity, sponsored by the Order of the Arrow, the Boy Scouts of America’s National Honor Society, leading a crew of eight Scouts in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests working on trail building and conservation projects. This was the Boy Scouts of America’s largest national service project since World War II. Also, I am a section chief in the Order of the Arrow. I oversee Maine, New Hampshire, and northern Massachusetts.

Volunteer activities: Currently, I serve as chairman of the Alton School Board and a member of the Prospect Mountain High School Board. I am a volunteer in the Boy Scouts of America as an assistant scoutmaster for Troop 53, Alton. As a youth in the Boy Scout program, I achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. For the past five years, I have worked with the New Hampshire Teen Institute Leaders in Prevention program as a youth and adult co-facilitator. The Leaders in Prevention program is for middle school-aged students who attend a three-day event as a team and leave with a program or event that they designed to implement back in their local community.

Key current professional challenge: One of my challenges is working to get younger people involved in local and state government. With the significant involvement of youth and young adults in both of the recent presidential campaigns, there are various ways to get involved locally and at the state level. Young adults were active volunteers and excited to vote in the Presidential primary election and the general election, but they also need to understand the importance of voting and participating in town, city, and school district elections.

Last major achievement: I decided that I wanted to get involved in the local political process while I was still in high school. I was elected to the Alton School Board in March 2007 and I was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives at the age of 19.

Two peers who know you well: Brendan Bertagnoll and Bryce St. Cyr

Biggest problem facing New Hampshire: An issue facing New Hampshire is the rising cost of a higher education. Students who graduate have many options after graduation such as entering military service, going to college, or going into the workforce. It currently costs approximately $20,000 for tuition and room and board at the University of New Hampshire. There are many jobs that require both a high school and college education in the workforce, and the State of New Hampshire needs to look at ways to assist students who want to attend college to make it a reality.

Favorite place in New Hampshire: Camp Bell, Griswold Scout Reservation, Gilmanton

What book are you reading now? “The Starbucks Experience” by Joseph A. Michelli

How do you relax? I like to go golfing or play tennis when I can.

What Web sites do you visit most often? www.cnn.com, www.scouting.org

Favorite TV show, radio station or musical artist: “Good Morning America,” CNN News