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Youth learn about business, leadership

Last weekend, 26 high school sophomores from our area completed a program developed to provide a glimpse of the business world and some of the skills they may use as they make their way through college and enter the workforce.

Youth Leadership Weirton is a program offered each year by the Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce.

Up to 30 students from Weir, Oak Glen, Brooke and Weirton Madonna high schools are selected for the program, which begins in September and usually concludes in late March or early April.

Through Youth Leadership Weirton, which has been in existence for almost 20 years, participants learn skills in teamwork, ethics, goal setting and how to identify elements of differing personalities in the hope of avoiding conflict.

It culminates in a special exercise where the class uses their knowledge and the skills earned through the program in an effort to build success.

Youth Leadership Weirton is a program I’ve been proud to play a small role in the last several years, being a part of the committee which oversees its operations.

Quite frankly, it’s a program I wish had been available when I was in school as I can only imagine the assistance it could have provided me and my classmates at that age.

The students have the opportunity to learn, to meet other students from area schools, to gain skills they most likely would not obtain during their regular school day.

It is something from which they will benefit, not only for the remainder of their high school years, but for the rest of their lives.

There is an application process, with students required to list their extra-curricular activities, grade point average and other information.

Much of the selection, though, is through an essay aimed at getting a student’s thoughts on leadership.

I won’t give away the topic as to not create any advantage.

In addition, those guiding the selection process don’t know which students are applying. That way there is no favoritism shown.

Youth Leadership Weirton has a long tradition of providing guidance to some of the future leaders of our region, encouraging them to give back to their communities.

Students completing the program this year were Andrea Alamario, Sabrina Alatis, Alexandra Backel, Conner Blake, Rachel Boniti, Brett Brown, Joshua Caswell, Eric Chartier, Rebecca Conaway, Mickayla Cook, Gavin Dietrich, Emily Donley, Chad Durante, Elle Greco, Aiden Hall, Enrique Herrera, Philip Hinerman, Garet Hostuttler, Michaela Mahan, George Makricostas, Chloe Molish, Abigail Nickerson, Kennedy Quinlan, Lonni Riggs, Gabriella Staffileno and Graci Tice.

I personally offer my congratulations to each of you, and encourage you to find ways to take your newfound skills and knowledge to become bigger parts of your school and your community.

To hear graduating students discuss their experiences from the six-month journey, to me, would be enough encouragement to apply.

To the high schools, I urge you to make sure your incoming sophomores are aware of this program.

Applications will be going out in the coming weeks. I hope there are many from each of the four schools interested in taking part.

It truly is worth it.

(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter @CHowellWDT)

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