Area sixth-graders take part in Leadership Academy Retreat

Leadership Marshfield participants organized and sponsored the event

For Hub City Times

MARSHFIELD — Twenty-four exceptional and enthusiastic sixth grade students, representing Grant, Lincoln, Madison, Nasonville, and Washington elementary schools, participated in a Leadership Academy Retreat at Saint Joseph’s Hospital Conference Center on Jan. 25.

The students were nominated by their peers and teachers as leaders in the classroom. This group of young leaders has been following a yearlong program cultivating their recognized leadership and service aptitudes.

A Leadership Marshfield group consisting of Paula Albright, Kristen Harvey, Keresa Kilty, Megan Kramas, and Sam Warp Jr. organized the full-day, hands-on retreat. This was the third year Leadership Marshfield organized and sponsored this student retreat. The school advisors also were present to help with delivery of the concepts for the day.

The day’s program was hosted by Jeff Whitrock of Pioneer Bank, who is an area student leadership trainer. Whitrock’s methods hone in on revisiting and refining “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” by Sean Covey.

The goal of the event was to unveil what “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” can mean in anyone’s life, especially to young people. The Leadership Marshfield group wanted to impress upon the young leaders how influential their interactions with others are in daily life. In addition, the students were taught to spread these habits to generate more leaders amongst their peers.

This year’s sixth-grade student leaders included Ava Sainterme, Henry Hoerneman, Hannah Fadrowski, Adam Potts, Matthew Trulen, Loryn Jakobi, Eliana Kanitz, Marina Griesbach , Ryan Paulman, Allison Kloss, Matthew Gronski, James Ketterer, Cartson Fries, Connie Langfoss, Lauren Maki, Morgan Sachs, Ryken Kohlbeck, Katilyn Leach, Sidney Mattison, Kayla Bain, Kaitlyn Seehafer, Graham Lonsdale, Justin Rachu, and Chase Hinson.