Berea Student Lands Spot In Prestigious Conference

WESTLAKE, OH — A student that attends Westlake High School's International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme earned herself a scholarship to attend the IB World Student Conference in New York. The conference, held over the summer, had only one Ohio student win an award — Madysen LeComte, from WHS.

LeComte's home school is actually Berea-Midpark High, but she attends the IB Programme at Westlake. She learned about the scholarship opportunity via the Ohio Association of IB World Schools and Westlake IB Coordinator Matthew Planisek. Planisek wrote LeComte a recommendation letter.

LeComte was accepted into the conference, which was themed "Defying and Defining Boundaries." LeComte said the conference was similar to a high school, but with students from across the globe. Students from 16 states and 16 countries were represented at the conference. (To stay up to date on local stories, subscribe to the Patch Westlake newsletter. As news breaks and the story develops, you will be the first to receive updates from Patch.)

“The conference got you out of your comfort zone. You were able to get new perspectives on things. All views were represented,” she said. “I got to hear all ideas in a safe environment that was open-minded.”

LeComte also said she came away from the New York conference with a new respect for differing viewpoints. She even came up with a Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) project for her IB Programme.

LeComte hasn't settled on collegiate plans for her future, but she wants to study medicine. She said the IB program is helping prepare her for the stringent rigors of medical school, while boosting her abilities in writing, time-management, and self-reflection.

Photo from Westlake Schools