Student Leaders Share Their Journey with Community Leaders

“Our inaugural Student Leadership Council Capstone Project – Learning to Lead was a tremendous success. Personally I will reflect upon the opportunity of working with this group of students and witnessing their accomplishments and personal growth in leadership as one of the most prized experiences in my career.”

Michelle Ginn, CEO, Carlsbad Educational Foundation

The Learning to Lead 2018 forum, presented by the Carlsbad Educational Foundation’s Student Leadership Council, was an impactful event for presenters and attendees alike. Conceived, planned, and executed by the 24 high school students who make up the SLC, Learning to Leadwas the capstone project and culmination of a yearlong effort to unlock leadership potential through special curriculum, monthly meetings, inspirational speakers and student advocacy. The two-hour event consisted of four student video presentations and two panel discussions with community leaders in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) and the Arts.

Audience members got to see and hear directly from the students whose videos outlined the mission and vision of the SLC, the impact mentors and community members had on leadership development, the role of non-profits in the community, and what each student learned through the program. Carlsbad Mayor, Matt Hall; City Council members Cori Schumacher, Michael Schumacher and Mark Packard; Carlsbad Unified School District’s Board President, Ray Pearson; Assistant Superintendent of Personnel, Rick Grove; and Director of Secondary Education, Megan Arias were just a few of the community leaders listening to the students share their personal journeys and getting a glimpse of the tremendous potential this next generation of leaders have cultivated through this program.

Following the video presentations were two interactive panel discussions moderated by the students. The STEM Panel participants were James Fieberg, Science Department Chair at Sage Creek High School; Shari Brasher, CEO of Fresh Start Surgical Gifts Foundation; Joan Perhach, Software Engineer at ViaSat; and Stephanie Nilsen, Ph.D., Senior Director of Operations and Biosciences at Thermo Fisher Scientific. Students asked panelists insightful questions about what ignited their passion in STEM, what role models helped build their leadership skills, and what advice they would give their high school age selves.

The Arts Panel participants included Jessica Allen, Orchestra Director at Carlsbad High School; Richard Schultz, Cultural Arts Manager for the City of Carlsbad; Kristianne Kurner, Executive Artistic Director of New Village Arts; and Shanna Nelson, President of Jazzercise. Questions from the students ranged from what leadership skills were most important to succeed in the arts, which failures became learning moments, and how to balance one’s passion with the need to have marketable skills.

In her closing remarks, Carlsbad Educational Foundation’s CEO, Michelle Ginn, said, “When we started the Student Leadership Council in 2016, our goal was to inspire the next generation of leaders by empowering them to develop lifelong leadership skills. Along the way, they’ve inspired all of us—with their energy, commitment and advocacy.”

Carlsbad high school students can still apply for the 2018-2019 CEF Student Leadership Council through June 22, 2018. For more information visit https://www.carlsbaded.org/student-leadership-council/

PHOTO COURTESY OF CARLSBAD EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

Top Row: (Left to Right) Danylo Drohobytsky, Edward Gardner, Julian Tursini, Scott Anderson

Middle Row: (Left to Right) Sierra Blechschmidt, Olivia Mejia, Ethan Meade, Emily Hyde, Jordyn Turner, Rachel Kulchar, Ravi Pathak, Bryant Kitisin, Aja Ward, Aiko Lozar, Shayda Moezzi, Nolan Mejia, Jenny Turner, Allison DelGrande

Bottom Row: (Left to Right) Matthew Dang, Shea Hinjosa, Eric Guo, Sarah Morgan.

Not Pictured: Lavanya Pandey and Nevina Rocco