Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Attendees of the Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy's graduation literally were singing the praises of this year's students during the organization's ceremony Wednesday.
During a night of sing-a-longs, lectures, presentations and the awarding of diplomas, the 12th graduating class of KYLA students were honored for their efforts over the past eight months.
"The student's projects were all very unique this year," KYLA President Coral Ampaugh-Topolski said. "We've had a gamut of topics over the years, and this class was no different."
The academy, consisting of 23 high school juniors from Warsaw, Triton, Lakeland Christian Academy, Wawasee, Tippecanoe Valley and Whitko schools, brainstormed projects that would benefit the various communities throughout Kosciusko.
Ideas included volunteer work at both the Baker Youth Clubs and Boys and Girls Club, an elementary literature outreach, a concert for successful teen parents and a program encouraging children to write letters to soldiers in Iraq.
Students Julian Ravenscroft and Audrey Speicher, both of Triton, Jamie Widman, LCA, and homeschooled student Sarah Renee Wilson gave a presentation to promote the 2-1-1 United Way program, a helpline which provides counseling, legal aid and employment assistance to callers.
Each student explained the workings of the project, which focused on advertising the phone service to teenagers.
By the end of their lecture, the four had their audience singing along with their "2-1-1" song they hoped would be aired on school announcements in the future.
Also present for the graduation ceremony was Michael Wartell, chancellor of IPFW, who congratulated students for participating in the program and encouraged them to continue their efforts in the future.
Wartell spoke of leadership, using figures such as Winston Churchill, Genghis Khan and Franklin Delano Roosevelt as examples. He also made suggestions as to how students could excel among their peers.
"You really have to be careful about what you say and how you say it if you want to be a leader," Wartell said. "Nothing shows ignorance like using the king's language like a jester in a court.
After a few grammar lessons to correct common Hoosier misuse, he then advised students to create their own futures by making life choices on their own terms.
"Choose well. Choose carefully. Choose for yourself," he said. "Don't waste the time it takes to remake a decision by not thoroughly thinking through the initial choice. Nothing will make you (more unhappy)."
