|
Washington,
DC – This July 4, more
than just fireworks were happening
at the national mall. More
than 900 teen leaders convened
at the Jefferson Memorial to
celebrate our nation’s
independence and reflect on
the importance of leadership
among teenagers today. These
high school students were all
attending LeadAmerica youth
leadership conferences in Washington.
 The event
featured teen representative,
Andrew Silverstein, who presented
a statement of leadership truths
for young leaders. The statement,
authored by Silverstein, a
student attending the LeadAmerica
conferences, spoke about our
fundamental liberties as Americans,
and recognized educators – and
all “teachers of life” – for
their contributions. “It
is recognizing that this is
our world, therefore our responsibility,
and in turn our choices that
really matter,” Silverstein
said. He quoted Isaac Newton: “If
I have seen further it is by
standing on the shoulders of
giants.” “We cannot
always be a giant among men,
but rather look to those who
may lend us their shoulders
to look out from upon,” said
Silverstein. “These
giants are the educators as
they stand firmly with their
eyes toward the future while
never forgetting the footsteps
they left behind. Teachers
of life, wherever one may find
them, are the facilitators
of learning, promoting individual
thought as students develop
a collection of knowledge and
its pursuit.”
LeadAmerica’s
founder and Executive Director,
Chris M. Salamone, gave the
keynote address. “I
am honored to have had the
opportunity to speak to such
a large group of outstanding
young leaders,” said
Salamone.
The teens
attending the rally were all
part of this year’s
LeadAmerca youth leadership
conferences. They attended
one of several leadership development
programs held on university
campuses throughout the city.
The programs focused on experiential
learning in which the student
leaders engaged in hands-on
activities, simulations and
workshops designed to help
them develop essential leadership
skills. Negotiation, team building
and creative thinking were
among the topics covered. LeadAmerica
leadership conferences on subjects
including national leadership,
intelligence and national defense,
medicine, law and forensic
science were held at Georgetown,
Johns Hopkins, American, Catholic
and other area universities.
These and other leadership
conferences were also held
on university campuses around
the country this summer.
Silverstein
is the son of Jeff and Pamela
Silverstein of Huntington,
NY. He is a rising senior at
Cold Spring Harbor Junior and
Senior High School.
One of
the students attending a 2008
LeadAmerica conference is Jessica
Cheuvront, a rising sophomore
from Cantonsvill, MD. “I
want to impact people’s
lives for the better,” said
Cheuvront. She feels that the
leadership conference will
give her experience in working
with groups and in public speaking.
She added, “I
want to fight as a representative
of the people and get them
more involved in the government.”
About LeadAmerica
LeadAmerica sponsors
youth leadership programs for
middle, junior and high school
students. With a commitment
to providing quality leadership
education, LeadAmerica empowers
teenage leaders and instills
in them ethical and principled
leadership values, attitudes
and skills. Each of its high
school conferences is collegeaccredited
and its programs are approved
activities of the National
Association of Secondary School
Principals. LeadAmerica sponsors
the Congressional Student Leadership
Conference for high school
students, the National Junior
Leaders Conference for middle
and junior high school students,
Ambassadors Abroad international
study programs in China,
Australia and Europe, and
Washington Summer Scholars,
a college-level academic
program held in partnership
with American University.
Contact:
Karen B. Sharp
VP, Marketing Communications
LeadAmerica
1.561.368.8085
media@lead-america.org |
