Leadership La Porte County recently completed its 19th annual leadership training program with more than 30 local high school students participating from each school in La Porte County.
Four all-day sessions were held at different locations around the county---Purdue North Central, the County Complex, Red Mill County Park and Cummings Lodge. Facilitators for the seminars were Dick Reel, Jim Jessup, Mary Foell, and Leadership Executive Director, Monica Komasinski. Seven students from last year’s class served as student leaders. They were: Jessica-Lena Bohlin (LaPorte High School), Carter Brown (South Central), Nolin Bruns (Westville) Stephanie Espar (Marquette), Olivia Glowacki (Michigan City), Justin Kiel (LaCrosse), and Riana Sass (New Prairie).
The program was funded by a community grant from the Unity Foundation.
The students practiced leadership skills such as communication, problem solving, team-building, collaboration, and decision-making. At the opening session they did a personality assessment in order to better understand group dynamics and individual personality traits. At the County Complex the group toured the County Jail and interviewed a panel of offenders. The student leaders facilitated many discussions on current youth issues. The graduation speakers were Gerrie Grott who spoke to the group on overcoming any odds to become a community leader, and Sonshine Troche who spoke about being a power for good. A panel featuring Troche, Shannon Hannon and Charlie Roberts also held a question and answer session with students. Each graduate received a certificate and a specially designed tee shirt. Next year’s student leaders were chosen. They are Matt Bartels (LaPorte), Emily Wolfe (Westville), Elijah Davis (South Central), Elliott Sass (Marquette), Amanda Beutner (New Prairie), Katie Vance (La Crosse) and Alejandro Miller (Michigan City).