Each year, JSA, through the generosity of the Montezuma Foundation, host a leadership summit for JSA members identified as emerging leaders in their state. The summit caters to approximately 50 student leaders and Teacher Advisors. Historically hosted at JSA's founding home, the former Montezuma Mountain School for Boys, this year's summit moved further west to the Walden West Science Center after the Montezuma location was shuttered last year.
Walden West provided a rustic backdrop for students to learn JSA's rich history and the vision of its founder Professor Ernest A. Rogers, led by Montezuma Foundation board member Karen Prosser. Additionally, students participated in workshops on activism, fundraising, communications, and chapter strengthening. There were also several leadership skills-building workshops. In true, JSA fashion, the sessions were planned and executed by JSA's Council of Governors. The group of Teacher Advisors were guided through sessions on building student leadership, the TA-student relationship and leading a panel before students on the value of a JSA Teacher Advisor.
The impact of the leadership summit and the experience, please take a few minutes to enjoy the graduation speech by two students and a teacher advisor with Miami Lakes Educational Center.
Teacher Advisor Yordanka Mewazi offers the graduation speech on behalf of the TA Fellows.
JSA student Ariana Krentz and Joshua Alexander, both from Southern California, were selected by their peers to offer the graduation speeches at 2018 Montezuma Leadership Summit on behalf of the class.
