FLOWERY BRANCH — James Lambert proved his mother wrong.

In early September, Colleen Lambert printed out the application forms and placed them on a counter in her home.

As her son took a peek at the forms, she said, "Oh, you should do this, but I bet you won’t," she said.

"I bet I will," he said. "We’ll see," she said.

The Flowery Branch High School sophomore got busy writing essays and fulfilling other application requirements to become a member of State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox’s Student Advisory Council for the 2007-08 school year.

Then, after school and before dinner one Friday, Lambert’s mom showed him the acceptance letter. It was a pleasant surprise to both mother and son.

"She thought I was too busy to do it," he said, chuckling.

Lambert was one of 53 students from high schools across Georgia named earlier this month to the council. More than 550 students from 118 school districts applied.

"It was nice to be recognized (in) a big crowd of the top students," he said.

The council held its first of four meetings this school year on Oct. 15 at Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville.

Cox, who took office in 2003, created the council four years ago to get student feedback on state education policies being put into place at the local level and suggestions on issues they feel are important to them and their communities.

The council "has played an important role in guiding how state policy is created and implemented," Cox said.

Lambert said the top issue at the first meeting was the state’s new graduation rule, which, beginning with next year’s incoming freshman, will require all high school students to fulfill the same number of credit hours to graduate.

Also, all work will be applied toward one diploma. No longer will there be a career and technical or college preparatory seal.

Students seemed to favor the idea, Lambert said.

"It just made everybody equal and there was no way for (students) ... to almost cheat the system," he said. "Kids (having a) harder time in classes would just switch to a tech prep diploma to raise their grades."

Lambert added that he also agrees with the change.

"Everybody gets the same thing and they have to perform at the same level to get (a diploma)."

He said he was impressed by Cox.

"She has a really good sense of humor," Lambert said. "She joked with us, but we got a lot of work done."

The group also talked about ways to reduce drop-out rates. One idea that surfaced was "mandatory parent-teacher conferences before ... even considering signing the slip to drop out," he said.

Lambert said he believes the advisory councils are a good idea.

"It’s never bad to have new ideas," he said.

Lambert stays busy in other ways, at school and elsewhere.

He’s a member of the school band (he plays French horn), the National Honor Society, the school’s Partners Club and cross country team.

Lambert also is a member of the youth group at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Flowery Branch.

And he is working on an Eagle Scout project, landscaping for the Cherokee garden at the Northeast Georgia History Center at Brenau University in Gainesville.

Lambert is looking to carry his interest in government beyond high school.

"I would like to go on to college and I’ve been looking at a major in political science," he said.

He is considering becoming a lobbyist.

"I just know that I like to make an impact on people and help them feel better," Lambert said.