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Graves, Tom
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Over 170 Students Attend Rep. Graves’ Youth Leadership Summit
Calhoun, Apr 23 -
Students from across Georgia’s 14th Congressional District gathered at Georgia Northwestern Technical College in Calhoun yesterday for U.S. Rep. Tom Graves’ first annual Youth Leadership Summit. In attendance were 173 high school juniors and seniors who were recommended by teachers and school administrators. As the students prepare to enter higher education or the workforce, the conference provided an opportunity to learn from and engage Georgia leaders who represent industries ranging from the media to the military. The Summit speakers were Riverside Military Academy Commandant Lt. Col. Kevin Jarrard, Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity Executive Director Melvin Everson, Georgia radio host Martha Zoller and Republican National Committee National Youth Director Elliott Echols. “Your reputation will go places you will never visit. Guard and protect it with your life,” Melvin Everson said to the students in an inspiring speech about his personal story of overcoming humble beginnings. Lt. Col. Jarrard received a standing ovation after speaking about duty and his experience serving the country in the U.S. Marine Corps. In a talk about communications, Martha Zoller offered practical career advice regarding social networking sites, saying, “Digital communication is a very powerful tool, but you must use it wisely. What you post will always be lingering in cyberspace and you never know who is looking." Elliott Echols, who works with young adults across the country on behalf of the Republican Party, encouraged the students to engage in a wide range of activities in order to discover what motivates them to engage in a community and make a difference. Schools participating in the Youth Leadership Summit were: Unity Christian, Trion High, Ringgold High, Ridgeland High, South Paulding High, Southeast Whitfield, Sonoraville High, Oakwood Christian Academy, Northwest Whitfield High, North Paulding High, North Murray High, Murray County High, Morris Innovative High, Coahulla Creek High, Gordon Central High, Christian Heritage, Gordon Lee Memorial High, Calhoun High, Lakeview-Ft.Oglethorpe High, Canaanland Christian, Lafayette High, Bremen High, Darlington School, Dalton High. Photo 1: Group photo
“It was a very special day thanks to all the students, chaperones and speakers who made it happen,” said Rep. Graves. “These students will be our leaders someday, and it’s so important that we invest in and help them succeed. We heard powerful messages from the four speakers, and I think everyone, myself included, left with great advice and a new perspective.”
Links to High Resolution photos:
Photo 2: U.S. Rep. Tom Graves
Photo 3: Elliott Echols, National Youth Director, Republican National Committee
Photo 4: Martha Zoller, Host, 1340 WGAU’s Zoller and Bryant
Photo 5: Melvin Everson, Executive Director, Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity
Photo 6: Lt. Col. Kevin Jarrard, USMCR, Commandant of Cadets, Riverside Military Academy
Photo 7: Rep. Graves with students.
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