Boys head to national conference

The Daily Inter Lake

A pair of students at St. Matthew's School in Kalispell are heading to the Junior National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C., on Friday.

Jake Johnson and Al Michael Olszewski will take part in leadership development and tours of the nation's capital as part of a 250-student delegation from middle schools across the country.

It is an honor reserved for a tiny percentage of the U.S. and Canadian students nominated for their academic and leadership abilities and potential.

Johnson is the son of Mark and Suzanne Johnson. Olszewski is the son of Dr. Albert and Nancee Olszewski.

Working with the theme, The Legacy of American Leadership, the conference introduces young people to the rich tradition of leadership throughout American history, while helping them develop their own leadership skills.

During the six-day program, scholars take part in educational activities and presentations, and may meet with elected officials and key Congressional staff members on Capitol Hill.

They will visit historical sites such as Harper's Ferry, the National Museum of American History and monuments and memorials.

They also will examine notable U.S. leaders and historic figures, and study the impact of leadership in critical periods of American history including the Civil War and Reconstruction, World War II, the Great Depression and the Civil Rights movement.

The conference is designed to send the students home with a better understanding of the role of individuals in American democracy and of a leader's responsibilities.

The council is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization formed in 1985. More than 200,000 students have gone through the program.