Students leading session at Young Leaders Conference

From learning the high school’s fight song to touring the building, students in grades fourth through eighth got an inside look at Marion County High School recently as they attended the seventh annual Young Leaders Conference. 

Hosted by the MCPS Student Ambassadors, the Young Leaders Conference brings together students from across the district that have shown strong leadership potential to attend sessions on developing leadership and soft skills as well as getting an experience inside the high school. 

The event included sessions designed to help build leadership and soft skills including public speaking, stress management, and even school spirit as well as a tour of the high school. Students were nominated to attend by their school’s principal.

“This was one of the best Young Leaders Conferences that we’ve had,” MCPS Student Ambassador advisor Laurie Followell said. “I think that the young students looked like they were engaged and having a great time. I thought our Student Ambassadors had lessons that were lively and well-prepared [...] It was definitely one to be remembered.”

The day concluded with Miss Kentucky Haley Wheeler delivering a keynote address followed by an awards ceremony recognizing each of the attendees.

The 2022 Young Leaders Conference invitees included:

Elementary

Ansley Thomas 

Kaylen Bartley

Emma Thompson 

Grayson Myers 

JT Gootee

Olivia McCauley

Kylie Edelen

Hailey Wilkerson

Maddox Clark

Eleanor Stewart

Hadley Potter

Nikita Cox

Jordan Walston

Dylan Robbins 

Adalyn Higdon

Makinley Beam

Ethan Willoughby

Ashly Ixcoy-Santos

Tanner Reed 

Collin Rakes 

Bryce Cecil 

Josie Gordon 

Bailey O'Daniel

Christopher Jewell

Bryce Wilson

Elin Gardiner

Trace Barnett

Middle School

Bella Brady

Joseph Cecil

Xavier Furmon

Savannah Campbell

Bella Gribbins

Knight Academy

Addie Bartley

Shamiya Calhoun

Jamie Zearing

Kaden Edwards

Thomas Carrico