ENVISIONING THE FUTURE — Casher Dopp, left, a seventh-grader at Edison Junior High School, along with Talon Glover, a fifth-grader at John Gregg Elementary School, visited Washington, D.C., and Bowling Green State University, respectively, to participate in separate forums during July. The trips were part of the district’s Envision by WorldStrides Program. Dopp was part of the Junior National Leaders Conference, while Glover took part in the National Youth Leadership Forum: Pathways to STEM program. -- Contributed

According to its website, Envision by WorldStrides was developed 40 years ago. Its programs are innovative, safe, fun, empowering and enable students to discover their passion; explore a career; make a difference and realize their dreams. Four programs are available for students to attend, including the Junior National Leaders Conference and National Youth Leadership forums for Medicine, Business and Pathways to STEM. 

Casher Dopp, a seventh-grader who attends Edison Junior High, and Talon Glover, a fifth-grader at John Gregg Elementary, respectively attended programs at Washington, D.C., and Bowling Green State University in July to explore opportunities and receive hands-on knowledge for their futures.

Dopp, the son of Chris and Kelly Dopp of Richmond, spent five days in the nation’s capital viewing historical and cultural sites as part of the Junior National Young Leaders Conference held July 21-25.

“It’s a leadership program for students and you have to be nominated by a teacher,” he said, adding he was named by sixth-grade teacher Tally Pasiuk while attending John Gregg last year. “If a teacher thinks you have good leadership qualities, you are nominated.”

Dopp said he spent three days sightseeing and visiting landmarks, including the Capitol, White House, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and Washington Monument. He completed a My Day in Office simulation at Maryland State College as well.

“It was very fun, and I learned a lot about American history and what President George Washington did,” he added. Dopp, who is currently a student representative for the Edison Local School Board, was active as a school board student rep and a student council member while at John Gregg.

Glover, son of Chance and Krystle Glover of Bloomingdale, attended the National Youth Leadership Forum: Pathways to STEM program at Bowling Green July 6-10. He took part in hands-on simulations and workshops to inspire his future interests. His schedule included a variety of sessions on social and emotional learning, medicine, engineering, medicine and forensic science, featuring a robotics tournament. His week concluded with an engineering design showcase.

“We dissected a calf heart, built a small rollercoaster, built a car and did battle with robots,” Glover said. “I liked a lot of stuff about it.”

Glover was nominated by fourth-grade teacher Leanne Sinicropi at John Gregg for NYLF Pathways to STEM, which is open forward-thinking elementary school students who will evolve into next-generation innovators, engineers, doctors, software developers and scientists.

Both students had an opportunity to board with their families at nearby hotels, while attending the programs. Envision by WorldStrides provides opportunities across the country, including New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston, Miami, St. Louis, Denver, Raleigh, Seattle, Nashville and Atlanta. About a million students have benefited from the transformational experiences the programs provide.