Press release
Around 50 students representing 26 area school districts visited the Trinity Valley Community College Athens campus last Saturday to participate in the Leaders of Tomorrow Conference presented by Phi Theta Kappa.
Each student was selected to participate based on their exhibition of leadership qualities in the classroom, on the athletic field or in the community. A number of the students represented their local chapters of student government or the National Honors Society.
TVCC Phi Theta Kappa advisor Nancy Long said the conference not only aimed to build the participants into stronger leaders, but to encourage them to become servant-leaders by learning about leadership styles. Co-Phi Theta Kappa advisor and REACH Honors Program director Dr. Michael Felty presented the welcome to participants.
In addition to the leadership workshop, structured after Dr. Taylor Hartman’s book, “The People Code,” students participated in a team-building exercise called “Saving Humpty Dumpty.” The exercise required students to use various household items, such as cereal boxes, shrink wrap, trash bags and plastic utensils, to build a device or vehicle that would allow an egg to stay intact after a two- to three-story drop.
Each student was presented with an award at the conclusion of the conference.
Participating schools and students were: Athens – Viviana Contreras, Chris Prox, Kay Solomon; Athens Christian Prep – Kathryn Laree Hardin, Issac Andrew Ridgle, Lindsey Mikayla West; Brownsboro – Cody Cade, Jermaine Castillo, Johnathan Rhoads; Canton – Connor Blake, Madison Fowler, Brianna Rhines; Cayuga – Ryan Case, Rebekah Glenn, Maci Poland; Crandall – Aaron Jones, Natalie Oswalt, Graham Phliegar; Cross Roads – Avery Newman, Carson Paroline, Amber Spence; Edgewood – Bailey Cates, Christian Davison, Coleman Simmons; Elkhart – Ian Lively, Leslie Nolan, Britanee Smith; Eustace – Carly Lynn Copeland, Grace Taylor Holcombe, Brandon Carl Hall; Forney – Natalie Hawley, Victoria Nguyen, Charles Slatinsky; Frankston – Abigail Carnes, Lauren Fleming, Pechrodeth Mao; Fruitvale – Jesus Rongel, Emma Shaw; Kemp – Cameron Polk, Dilan Turner, Ellen January; LaPoynor – Jennifer Warren, Justin Nichols, Kirsten Nance; Mabank – Heather A. Bayless, Daniel S. Holmes, Meagan E. Holyfield; Malakoff – Karley Kebodeaux, Clay Gaddis, Holden Sparks; Martin’s Mill – Sydney Bartlett, Dylan Weatherford, Florentina Landaverde; Neches – Olivia Taylor, Jessica Pinkert, Matthew McLauchlin; North Forney – Shelby Armstrong, Jared Walker, Rebecca Blackshear; Palestine – Morgan Whitfield, Cass French, Tyler Barnard; Rains – Megan Hazelwood, Georgia France, Tyler Clark; Slocum – Kelsee Webb, Emily Edwards, Brayan Cubias; Terrell – Clayton Looper, Dakota Heathcock, Sydney Hathcock; Trinidad – Miller Motley, Maranda Ayala, Thomas McVey; Westwood – Devyn Rice, Kara Anderson, Jonell Morrow.