Local student to take part in Junior National Young Leaders Conference

KeHugh David Swan of Thoreau, New Mexico, son of Kerenthia and Robin Jay Swan of Rocky Boy, along with other outstanding middle school students from across the United States will take part in an extraordinary leadership development experience, the 2015 Junior National Young Leaders Conference, an Envision program.

The program provides a historical view of leadership and encourages young scholars to develop their own leadership skills and strategies for success in the 21st century.

“The Junior National Young Leaders Conference enables students to recognize their own leadership abilities in the context of great men and women from the past and present,” said Marguerite Regan, the dean of academic affairs for JrNYLC. “They return home with new confidence in their ability to make a positive impact in their school and communities. Washington, D.C., serves as the perfect backdrop for this inspiring program to generate a new generation of U.S. leaders.”

At the six -day conference, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students take part in fun and exciting workshops and participate in simulations to confront the challenges faced by historic leaders from the nation’s past. Scholars also explore historically significant sites such as Harpers Ferry National Park and the National Mall to explore museums, monuments and memorials dedicated to U.S. founding fathers.

JrNYLC also takes students on an in-depth journey to view leadership challenges through the perspective of critical periods in American history: the Civil War Reconstruction, World War II, the Great Depression and the Civil Rights Movement, for example.

“The students gain greater sense of themselves, their roles to preserve American democracy and their responsibilities as tomorrow’s leaders,” Regan said.

KeHugh is of the Salt Clan and born for the Four Souled People — Chippewa Cree. His maternal grandfather’s clan is of the Two Who Came to the Water and his paternal grandfather’s clan is of the Rabbit Eaters — Chippewa Cree.

KeHugh is a fifth-grade student at Thoreau Elementary School. He is involved in the gifted-and-talented program and has been on the high honor roll for eight years.

He is a powwow fancy dancer. He has been involved with basketball, Grants Youth Football League-Pirates, baseball, soccer, jujitsu-mixed martial arts, capoeira enjoys playing the guitar and surfing the Internet. KeHugh was the 2014-2015 Thoreau Elementary School spelling bee champion and T.E.S. dance leader in the 2011-2012 Navajo Language and Culture Festival.

KeHugh is seeking donations to assist in defraying the cost of his trip. Anyone who would like to help can make a check out to: KeHugh Swan, P.O. Box 1145, Thoreau, NM 87323.

For more information about the Junior National Young Leaders Conference, visit http://www.envisionexperience.com/Leadership.