Student Raising Funds

To Attend Leadership Conference In Boston

By Eliza Hallabeck

After attending the Junior National Young Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C,. this past June, rising Newtown Middle School seventh grade student Jaden Albrecht has already set a goal to attend the Junior National Young Leadership Conference Alumni meeting in Boston next summer, but needs to raise funds to cover the cost of the trip.

“I would like to become more of a leader,” said Jaden recently.

Jaden was recommended to attend the Junior National Young Leadership Conference in Washington by her sixth grade Reed Intermediate School teacher Kristen Strobel.

“I had never heard of the program before,” Jaden said, “but she recommended four students from our class of 25 [students].”

The Washington conference ran from June 5 to June 10, and Jaden said she visited the Lincoln Memorial, the Viet Nam Memorial, the Washington Monument, and more.

“I learned about previous leaders who changed our country so much,” Jaden said, reflecting on her trip. “Someday I hope to use my experiences to become a leader myself. It was such a great opportunity that opened so many doors for my future.”

As a graduate of the National Young Leadership Conference, Jaden said she is automatically accepted into the Alumni Conference scheduled for next year in Boston.

According to the Congressional Youth Leadership Council’s website, the Junior National Young Leaders Conference Alumni Boston meeting will reinforce “the virtues of leadership, citizenship, and democracy using Boston, MA, as a dynamic classroom.”

After participating in the Washington trip, Jaden said she found inspiration when she learned about Harriet Tubman, “because I thought it was great that she had something that she really needed to believe in.

“I really feel if no one else from my school is going to go,” said Jaden, “I have the ability to go, and I want to make the most of it.”

Jaden said she will take the information she learned during her trip to Washington with her when she begins her middle school career at the end of this month.

“If there is bullying, I want to be the first to try to stop it,” said Jaden, adding she also wants to help solve any problems she comes across in the school.

The Junior National Young Leadership Conference Alumni conference, Jaden said, is expensive, and to finance her trip next summer Jaden will be working throughout the school year to raise funds.

“I will be holding a tag sale, car wash, and a dog wash,” said the young leader. “That way I can earn the tuition, so I can share my experiences with my classmates, and I can continue to develop my leadership skills.”

After contacting advisors for the conference, Jaden said she was told to contact local businesses and organizations from her home town to help raise the cost of attending the event, which is $1,950, according to the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, and includes the cost of housing, program materials, food, and transportation during the six-day conference.

While Jaden said she has not yet scheduled fundraising events, she will be working during the school year to hold them. As of this week, Jaden said she hopes to host a lemonade stand by the end of the summer.

For anyone interested in helping Jaden reach her $1,950 goal, Jaden said she will be posting flyers around town to announce her different fundraising events. She also said she can be e-mailed at jaden123@aol.com.

“Even the smallest donation would be helpful and greatly appreciated,” said Jaden.

For more information about the Junior National Young Leadership Conference and the Congressional Youth Leadership Council visit www.cylc.org/nylc.