Warsaw Community High School senior Makia Lukas attended the National Student Leadership Academy in Washington, D.C., for four days recently.
The first day consisted of meeting with Indiana Governor-elect Mike Braun in his office to discuss the importance of Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) in the state’s local communities. She was able to share her story and what she hopes to accomplish with her future. Braun told the students about his life and past careers that led him to where he is today.
After this meeting, Lukas participated in leadership and advocacy trainings with peers from all over the nation. This training was followed by teambuilding activities with students from all JAG programs in the U.S.
On day two, Lukas met with Second District U.S. Congressman Rudy Yakym. She spoke on her past history and how Warsaw has grown to shape her into who she is today. Yakym spoke on how he is part of the budget committee and how he can help Indiana to keep programs such as JAG funded for the state. Lukas was able to answer questions Yakym had for her and discuss her future goals.
Lukas was able to listen to Miss America speak on leadership. She was able to witness the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the changing of the guards at Arlington Cemetery. She was able to watch the wreath-laying ceremony.
Lukas spent the night on a twilight monument tour, getting to see the monuments all over town, such as Martin Luther King Jr., Thomas Jefferson, the Vietnam Memorial, the White House, the World War II Memorial and more. She was able to listen about the history from a tour guide that took everyone around the town.
On day three, Lukas was involved in a leadership session with peers to bring back ideas to the JAG classroom.
She was given free time to choose an activity to participate in and chose to walk through the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.
She finished the night with a guided etiquette dinner and a Battle of the Decades Dance with all of the peers who participated in the events.