Impacting future leaders

HURON TWP. — Students enrolled in several area school districts recently graduated from The Chapel's Impact Leadership program. It's the eighth-annual class for this program. This year, more than 70 seventh-graders took part in the program at the Sandusky-area worship center with 30 or so high school juniors acting as their mentors. The older students serve as mentors to the younger ones. Among the school districts and institutions represented: Edison, EHOVE Career Center, Firelands Christian Academy, Huron, Norwalk, Perkins, Sandusky, Sandusky Central Catholic and Vermilion. The students are selected to participate by their school principals," according to a program statement. Many speakers came to discuss leadership topics. This would include, in no particular order: • Tyson Gentry, a Perkins High School graduate and the founder of the New Perspective Foundation, spoke about overcoming adversity • Educators Lonny Rivera, Pat Kania and Matt Ehrhardt spoke about preparing for life beyond school • Michelle Warnke Burma, a winner on the TV show "America Ninja Warrior," spoke about the importance of being persistent • Jessica Steuk, senior vice president of Civista Bank, spoke about setting goals • Pastors Calvin Dorsey, Dustin Ours and Jay Halley spoke about possessing integrity and positive relationships • Tony Legando, a retired coach and author, spoke about watching out for peer pressure • Erie County Sheriff Paul Sigsworth, Perkins police Chief Jeff Musser and Sandusky city manager John Orzech spoke about leading teams and pursuing servant leadership • High school juniors Leah Hirshman, Ben Musser and Kinslee Willis spoke about coming together as a team • Cam and Brett Colahan spoke about staying tough mentally; Cam is a Vermilion High School graduate who is a cancer survivor. Her father is a longtime educator. "Upon identifying young potential leaders in our area, eager to grow and develop their leadership skills, we want to help them better understand and appreciate the true art of leadership," Legando said.