In the spring of 2015, 30 then-juniors applied, wrote essays, and were selected as Xavier’s representatives for the annual National Conference on Youth Leadership (NCYL). The students who were chosen had excelled in some form of leadership and service and had maintained at least a B average. They also were required to participate in an interview about their leadership roles to determine if they would receive a scholarship. About 35 scholarships are awarded every year to students in Cedar Rapids.
The purpose of the NCYL conference is to recognize outstanding seniors. The session includes seminars and workshops specifically designed to further develop their leadership skills. The program wants to support those students who know the importance of service and giving back to their communities.
This year’s conference was held September 20 and 21 at Kirkwood Community College and Mount Mercy Graduate Center. Students from 18 different schools across Iowa came together for two days to discuss leadership roles. The students discussed various topics including self-esteem, positivity, connections, and health and wellness with speakers from the NCYL program.
After the conference, the students gathered in Coe College’s Sinclair Auditorium for the closing ceremony, where four Xavier students were awarded scholarships. Senior Daniel Richardson was awarded with a $250 scholarship and invited to travel to the next level of NCYL in St. Louis. Seniors Emma Delaney, K.J. Giles, and Tyler Testin received $100 scholarships for their leadership.
“I won my scholarship based on my leadership and the essay I wrote,” Delaney said. “This was a great opportunity for me to plan for the future and learn more about leadership.”
NCYL has also opened their nominations for the next step in the conference called Town Meeting On Tomorrow, an event for the top eight scholarship winners from Cedar Rapids and student representatives from other areas.