ACA Student
Wins at General
Tommy Franks
National Leadership
Program
MPS Students Use Art for Good
Several Montgomery Public School students were recently presented awards
by Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange for artwork that was created for “Peace
Within MGM,” a program calling for a citywide day of peace in Montgomery
and the River Region on September 21. The aim of the event was to challenge
the citizens of Montgomery and the surrounding communities to work toward
cultivating peace by promoting respect, compassion, strategic planning, sharing
goods and information, and regular and robust community dialogue. In
addition, the Montgomery County Board of Education proclaimed September
21 as “MPS Peace Day’ and encouraged all students to participate in activities
that promoted peace and citizenship and to explore ideas on how young people
can resolve conflicts peacefully.
Students from Montgomery Preparatory for Advanced Career Technologies
(MPACT), Baldwin Arts and Academics Magnet and Booker T. Washington
Magnet all received awards. The overall winner was MPACT student Nicholas
Yeend, whose design was used as a logo for the event. Second place honors went
to MPACT student Jalon Lee. Third place honors went to Baldwin Arts student
Pearl Khotsombath, MPACT student Courtney Slater and Baldwin student
Annie Xia.
Peace Within MGM coincided with the United Nation’s International Day of
Peace and was one of several activities being held in communities across the
world to promote peace.
Caroline Rives, an Alabama Christian Academy
senior, placed first in the Four Star Leadership
program’s Writing Contest for her superb writing,
critical thinking and observation abilities.
Caroline was one of 50 participants in the Four
Star Leadership program, a week-long program
in Oklahoma City that offers leadership training,
ethical deliberation, speech competitions and
scholarships, as well as the opportunity to engage
with national and global leaders. She took first
place and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship in the
Writing Contest.
The students are confronted with practical
leadership and ethical scenarios and challenged to
address them individually in a persuasive speech
and writing competition, and collaboratively in an
Ethics Bowl format.
Former Commander-in-Chief of American and
coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, General
Franks hosted the camp, and guest speakers at the
conference included Oklahoma Governor Mary
Fallin and Lt. Governor Todd Lamb, Country
Music Artist Neal McCoy, Col. Allen West (ret.),
multiple Olympic Gold medalist Michele Smith
and many others.
Since 2008, “Four Star” has welcomed more
than 300 high school students from all 50 states
and 43 international students. Kings, governors,
senators, Olympic Gold medalists and top business
leaders have mentored students in developing
and demonstrating the core leadership principles
of the program: character, common vision,
communication, and caring.
L20 |
Winter 2015
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