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CARLYNTON SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
Three Carlynton High School upperclassmen recently spent five incredible days in the nation’ s capital as delegates to the 2017 Envision Impact Series: Presidential Inauguration Leadership Summit. Senior Mia Caruso and freshmen Benjamin Carothers and Camryn Kwiatkoski departed for Washington, D. C. mid-January for a life-changing, history-making opportunity.
As affiliates of the leadership conference, Mia, Ben and Camryn were among 2,500 teens from 30 countries to witness the inauguration of Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States. Ben, as he watched and listened to the ceremonies, said there was a big difference in physically being on Capitol grounds rather than watching it on television.“ The impact was much greater,” he said. While the atmosphere on the Capitol green was upbeat, protesters were not far away. Ben, Camryn and Mia admitted it was interesting to watch how strongly people felt on both sides of the continuum. Mia was interviewed by a CBS news reporter shortly after the inauguration. The interview was published on CBS Snapchat and Instagram.
As delegates for change, the students attended numerous presentations and informational sessions over the five-day period. They listened to worldrenowned speakers, from the likes of Colin Powell, retired four-star general of the U. S. army, Spike Lee, award winning writer, director, actor and producer, and Amy Wamback, all-time leading scorer in international soccer history.
Ben said he appreciated comments made by Colin Powell who encouraged him and others in the audience to“ do your best every day.” The theme driven home by Powell,“ leadership is followship,” conveyed the message that a good leader must also know how to follow.
Standing out above others, Camryn and Mia said they admired and were inspired by a speech given by 19-year old Malala Yousafzai, a human rights activist who campaigns for the rights of women to receive an education. In 2012, Yousafzai, of Pakistan, was shot by the Taliban in an assassination attempt while traveling home from school. Ziauddin Yousafzai, a Pakastani diplomat and father to Malala, gave the keynote address during a luncheon and career fair held on the concourse of the Eagle Bank Arena located on the campus of George Mason University. The trio were impressed by the career fair which offered ample pathways to career choices.
The conference’ s message was clear: to empower next generation leaders as they uphold a journey to realize their potential. In break out sessions, Mia, Ben and Camryn had the chance to debate powerful issues involving national and global challenges in regards to leadership, health care and curing the future.
The summit’ s schedule, though rigorous, was not all hard work. Students had a chance to explore many of the museums and
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Discovering the key to leadership through hard work was the theme of the Leadership Summit. Camryn Kwiatkoski valued the time spent in the Eagle Bank Arena where a number of world-renowned speakers imparted a message of empowerment.
Senior Mia Caruso, with the Capitol Building behind her, was interviewed by a CBS reporter following the inauguration of our 45th President of the U. S.
Ready for the exclusive Inaugural Gala, Benjamin Carothers stands tall in the Smithsonian National Museum of Air and Space.
monuments in the city and attended a dinner and formal gala in the Smithsonian National Museum of Air and Space.
The teens said they returned to Carlynton with an exposure to differing political viewpoints and a determination to make a difference.
All three students are well on their way to taking those steps. Mia, who attended a national security summit at the Pentagon in 10th grade, maintains good grades while balancing numerous extracurriculars. She is co-captain of the varsity cheerleading squad, a member of the girls’ ensemble and track team and she will perform in her fourth spring musical later this month. Mia is also a lifeguard for the Special Olympics swim team. She plans to study political science in college.
Ben, enrolled in scholars and advanced placement classes, is vice president of the National Honor Society, a member of the boys’ soccer team, debate club and ski club. Camryn, also a scholar and AP student, is president of junior high student council. She has studied dance from a young age and will perform as Louisa in this year’ s production of The Sound of Music.
The Presidential Inauguration Leadership Summit is held every four years during the week of the presidential inauguration. The 2017 summit marked the ninth year of engaging teens and empowering them to discover their passion, explore careers and realize dreams.