Local student attends national leadership summit
Special to THE BREEZE, news@breezenewspapers.com
Alexandra Honc, a student at Bishop Verot High School and daughter of life-long Pine Island residents Dan and Donna Honc, recently attended the 2008 National Leadership Summit, sponsored by LeadAmerica, at the American University in Washington, DC. The National Leadership Summit is a college-accredited invitational leadership program for academically talented and promising young leaders from across the United States and internationally. Exceptional high school students with a record of academic achievement and extracurricular or community involvement, were invited to participate in the summer program.
At the summit, students learned how our country’s leadership functions from a hands-on approach. Honc and fellow students stepped into the shoes of those who lead at the national level in an Executive and Legislative simulation. Examining the complex issues that face American’s today, students learned to negotiate, compromise and build consensus and support for their positions.
“Every social and political mindset our country has to offer was represented there. I was able to see the complexities of communicating points of view to others with completely different backgrounds, ideals and religions. I now have a much better appreciation of bipartisanship issues and how our congress and other national leaders must work with one another to get things done.”
Honc has aspirations of pursuing a political science degree from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, and embarking on a military career. While in Washington, she had the opportunity to express her goals to representatives of Congressman Connie Mack, in the hope of gaining his endorsement.