Soap Lake student hones leadership

Attends conference in nation's capital

Soap Lake - Soap Lake youth Camille Culbertson feels empowered to help the community after attending a leadership conference.

Culbertson attended a six-day Junior National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. The event was sponsored by Congressional Youth Leadership Council.

"With this experience, I feel that I will make a difference in my community now and in the future with the lifelong skills that I have learned," Culbertson stated. "I feel this will even help me in my ASB treasurer position at Parkway School in Ephrata."

According to the organization, more than 250 middle-school students nationwide attended the conference. The theme was "Voices of leadership: Reflecting on the past to create the future."

The program is aimed at helping students develop leadership skills and introducing them to leadership as a tradition in U.S. history.

"The aim of the Junior National Young Leaders Conference is to inspire students to recognize their own leadership skills, measure their skills against those of current and former leaders and return home with newfound confidence in their ability to exercise positive influence within their communities," stated council Dean of Academic Affairs Marguerite Regan. "Young people are not only welcome in Washington, D.C., they actually keep this city and our country running."

The trip included visits to monuments and memorials in Washington, D.C., opportunities to meet with elected officials and members of Congressional staff, and educational activities, according to the organization.