Haley Brasil of Warwick, a senior at La Salle Academy, met President Barack Obama this summer during a trip to Washington, D.C. with the American Legion Auxiliary’s Girls Nation program.

Established 69 years ago, ALA Girls Nation runs state-level programs at which participants learn about responsible citizenship and study local and state government processes. Two student representatives from each program, known as “senators,” are then chosen to represent their state at the ALA Girls Nation conference. During the conference, the focus turns to the federal government, and students participate in mock campaigns and senate sessions and also tour area attractions such as the White House and the U.S. Capitol.

Brasil represented Rhode Island in July along with her La Salle Academy classmate, Bridget Bogan. During their trip, Brasil had the opportunity to meet President Obama, as well as Rhode Island Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse.

At La Salle, Brasil is a member of the cheerleading squad for both soccer and basketball and participates in Lasallian Youth, La Salle Scholars, model legislature, debate club and gardening club. She is also a student ambassador. During her junior year, Brasil attended a master class at Columbia University taught by Columbia alumnus and astronaut Michael Massimino, and this summer she was awarded a scholarship to study for two weeks at Centro Mundolengua in Seville, Spain. After graduation, Brasil hopes to pursue a degree in chemical engineering.