Congratulations to eight Roncalli Royals, Lexi Dunscomb, Lucy Hammerschmitt, Alana Hawkins, Vivie Hayes, Jillian Kruer, Thomas Mallers, Lydia Traylor and Anna Wagner, who have been accepted into the Leadership Johnson County Youth Leadership Academy. The youth leadership academy is a five-month program designed to bring together a select group of Johnson County high school students to learn more about their community and practice leadership skills in a fun learning environment.
Each program day is designed to foster an opportunity for increased self-awareness, a better understanding of the local community and an opportunity to meet and network with peers from across Johnson County. Modeled after the Leadership Johnson County Signature Program, the Youth Leadership Academy will provide students with an extraordinary opportunity for in-depth leadership training from experts around the state.
Youth Leadership Academy participants must attend an opening retreat in late July, attend four regularly scheduled classes throughout the year, attend and present at the graduation celebration and complete a community service project.
Junior Vivie Hayes shared, “I am very honored to have been chosen for the Leadership Johnson County Youth Leadership Academy this year. Watching my sister go through the process last year and being able to see her personal growth truly influenced me to apply and start my own personal journey within the program. The ability to participate among an incredible group of students, some of which are my best friends, truly excites me and makes me eager to start. I am very blessed to now be a part of this program and cannot wait to see where being a part of the Academy takes me!”
“Being a leader is important to me. As my generation begins to leave high school and plan for the future, I feel it is my job to step up and be the change I want to see in society. To me, this program is an opportunity to become a better leader and learn more about my community,” said junior Anna Wagner. “The Youth Leadership Academy is indeed an honor, and I am excited to fulfill being an advocate for teenagers in our community. It is because of this, I do not have to wait to be the change I want to see, instead the change starts here and now.”
“Lexi, Lucy, Alana, Vivie, Jillian, Thomas, Lydia and Anna are all very deserving of this opportunity. They are leaders in the classroom, in the hallways, on the athletic fields and in their parishes. I am excited to see the new skills they will develop as part of the Leadership Johnson County Youth Leadership Academy! This is the largest class of Roncalli students that has been accepted into the Youth Leadership Academy in one year!” said Michael Wantz, assistant principal for student life.