Suzanne Middle School Student to Attend National Conference

Suzanne Middle School sixth grader Gabriel Voss has been selected to attend the 2013 Junior National Young Leaders State Conference (JrNYLSC.)

He was nominated by his C. J. Morris Elementary Teacher Cindy Fu.

Mrs. Fu recognized Gabriel at the end of fifth grade as one of a select group of students with the scholastic merit, maturity, and strength of character to represent the Walnut school.

Gabriel maintains a 4.0 GPA at Suzanne, is an ASB class representative, and has one of the lead roles in the spring production of “Seussical the Musical.”

This year, outstanding students from across the nation will take part in the unique leadership development program being held in 30 cities across the country. Themed Courageous Leadership, the conference helps young scholars take an introspective and highly personalized assessment of their leadership skills and abilities.

Gabriel is looking forward to attending the conference to be held in Irvine from June 20-23.

The 11 year-old has even helped raise money to attend the conference by collecting cans and bottles.

He is also required to have five mentors complete a short survey to assess and rate his leadership abilities.

“I’m really excited and figured it would be cool to see what they’ll be teaching. It looks really fun,” he said.

Throughout the four-day program, students will build a working “toolkit” of strategies to help them successfully dream, create, and implement plans that will change how they view their role as leaders in their communities.

Gabriel currently has plans to become a video game designer and to open his own company

“I think the conference will help me learn how to run my business,” he said.

The Congressional Youth Leadership Council, the organization that sponsors the NYLSC, is committed to fostering and inspiring young people to achieve their full leadership potential.

--Walnut Unified School District