Douglas Bell is a student who hails from San Francisco, California, USA, and is currently attending American University in Washington, D.C. as a freshman. At AU, he is currently enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences with an undeclared major, and is in the University Honors program. Born on September 28, 1991, he is currently 18 years old.
Current Activities at University
In addition to maintaining a 16-credit class load at American, Douglas is involved with a number of on-campus organizations. He is most actively involved at ATV, AU’s student-run television station. During September-November 2009, he took charge in redesigning their website and introducing live online streaming of their programming. He also is the co-host, co-producer, and editor of Tech tAUk, a technology discussion program. He also fills in a number of other minor roles at ATV as needed, including working with programming and productions, and serving as managing editor for ATV Classics and a contributor to Special Broadcast.
Douglas also serves in the American University Student Government as Parliamentarian of the Undergraduate Senate, a non-partisan advisory role to the Speaker and members of the Senate. As of September 2009, he is a card-carrying member of the DC Hobson Unit of the National Association of Parliamentarians.
Douglas is also musically active at AU as well. He is the lead male vocalist (“lead” currently means “only,” though we’re working to change that) in Fellowship of Sound, the student-run choral group of the AU United Methodist/Protestant Community. He also plays cello at their worship services, and participates in AU’s Chamber Music program.
Past Activities During Middle/High School
Douglas attended high school at Aragon High School in San Mateo from 2005 until his graduation on May 29, 2009. Douglas was well-known in high school for being active on many fronts, academically and extracurricularly. He founded the Aragon High School Peace Club in 2005 and served as its president for three years. He also participated in the school’s fledgling Cribbage Club during senior year and helped teach the game to newcomers. He volunteered in his high school’s Leadership class (student body) as Clubs Commissioner, and also spearheaded numerous activities such as Cards for Soldiers drives, a school-wide Mock Election in October 2008, and much more. During his senior year, he was considered the “voice of Aragon” as he was one of the two energetic readers of the daily 5th period announcements. He also was the assistant principal cellist in the Chamber Orchestra for his latter two years of high school, and also went with them on a ten-day tour of Beijing, China in June 2008. He also performed as Lennox in Aragon’s March 2009 production of Macbeth. He also volunteered with the school district UASB (Union of Associated Student Bodies), and was a frequent attendee at school board meetings, often speaking publicly at these meetings as well.
Douglas has also been highly active in the PTA since 2004. He has served on the San Mateo-Foster City PTA Council as Parliamentarian and Webmaster, and the California 17th District PTA (which covers San Mateo County) as Webmaster and Student Involvement Chairman. He also served as a student board member on the California State PTA Board of Managers (one of five in the state) for two years, during which he served on the Communications Commission and Student Involvement Committee. In addition to these titles, he has volunteered at the various PTA levels in many other capacities, and also taken key roles in PTA’s advocacy efforts, particularly concerning the ongoing 2008-09 budget crises in California.
Although his PTA roles have declined as a result of his move to university, he continues to serve as 17th District PTA’s webmaster from afar, and remains a card-carrying member of Golden State PTA.
Douglas also takes part in a number of other activities, including:
- Student Peace Activist, including participation with Peace Action of San Mateo County
- Co-hosts the phpBB Weekly Podcast
- Designs and develops various websites, including the one you’re reading right now
- Plays the cello (since 2001) personally, in orchestras, and in a harp-flute-cello trio with his parents
- Plays cello and sings in his church choir
- Bikes a lot, particularly in the annual Tour de Peninsula
- Enjoys volunteering at the polls during elections, and has done so in February 2008, November 2008, and May 2009
Some Other Fun Facts:
- During summer, he occasionally makes jams (his Triple Berry Jam won Judges Choice Award at the 2006 San Mateo County Fair)
- He is quite skillful at cribbage despite having only learned it in June 2008; his chess game is also pretty good but not quite as good
- Despite owning eight domain names during his life, none of them have ever been a .com domain name
- His favorite restaurant is Jeffrey’s Hamburgers, and his favorite drink is root beer (especially root beer floats)
- He “invented” the fictional phenomenon of deep-fried pickle hearts
Awards and Honors Received
- June 2005: Dr. Al Landucci Outstanding School and Community Service Award (sole recipient from his middle school graduating class)
- January 2007: California Teachers Association Peace & Justice Caucus Youth Activism and Empowerment Award (one of ten recipients)
- February 2007: 17th District PTA Honorary Service Award
- February 2007: Commendation from the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors recognizing PTA volunteer service
- May 2007: California Scholarship Federation Mathematics Department Honor Award
- December 2007: Peace Action of San Mateo County Outstanding Student Peace Activist Scholarship Award ($1000 Scholarship)
- January 2008: North Central San Mateo Neighborhood Association’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay and Poetry Contest: First Place Essay (also invited to read essay at NAACP Anniversary Event in March 2008, introduced by Congresswoman Jackie Speier)
- May 2008: Aragon High School Music Department “Most Valuable Player” Award
- June 2008: Aragon High School’s delegate to the American Legion’s California “Golden” Boys State
- September 2008: CollegeBoard Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar Award
- October 2008: National Merit Semifinalist/Commended Student (based on PSAT/NMSQT exam taken in October 2007)
- February 2009: 17th District PTA Continuing Service Award
- March 2009: California State PTA Graduating High School Senior Scholarship ($500 Scholarship)
- April 2009: California Teachers Association High School Senior Scholarship ($5000 Scholarship)
- May 2009: San Mateo Union High School District UASB “Student of the Month” Award
- May 2009: Aragon High School Music Department “Most Valuable Player” Award
- May 2009: California Scholarship Federation Lifetime/100% Membership Academic Achievement Award
- June 2009: San Mateo-Foster City PTA Council Honorary Service Award
