The 20th annual Metro East Youth Leadership Weekend brought high school students from across the region to Southern Illinois University Carbondale recently for workshops on artificial intelligence, civic engagement and college success.
Hosted by SIU’s Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, the two-day program featured speakers Tobias Merriman and Jermaine Hughes, along with keynotes by Rodney H. Holmes, magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court in St. Louis, and Tommy Van of Marriott International.
Students gathered for small-group discussions with SIU mentors about college life, academic success and civic engagement. They also joined SIU Chancellor Austin Lane at the university’s Homecoming football game and participated in leadership challenges at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center.
D’Lando Wooten Jr. of Cahokia High School earned first place in the Paul Simon Leadership and Character Awards. Kennedy Crawford of East St. Louis and Aningo Aningo of Clayton High School were runner-up and third-place honorees, respectively.
On Sunday, students attended a morning worship service, a keynote address by Darius Robinson and additional leadership exercises.
The Metro East Youth Leadership Weekend aims to strengthen civic awareness and personal development among students in the region.