Mar. 13—HICKORY — The Catawba Valley Leadership Foundation hosted their first student leadership conference, welcoming over 100 high school students from South Caldwell High School. The half-day event, held at the Appalachian State University's Hickory campus, featured workshops led by area business and community leaders, according to a press release from Catawba Valley Leadership Foundation.
The student conference, held on Feb. 27, brought together young aspiring leaders eager to progress on a journey of personal and professional growth. The conference included a keynote session from Dallas Bates on the topic of "Success Starts with Being" as well as interactive breakout sessions lead by business leaders in the community. The high school students in attendance were equipped with the knowledge, tools, and inspiration on how to live and lead successful lives, according to the press release.
"We are thrilled to have provided a platform for these exceptional young minds to explore and develop their leadership abilities," said Chad Hall, President of the Catawba Valley Leadership Foundation. "It's inspiring to witness their enthusiasm and passion for being persons of influence, and we are confident they will emerge from this experience as empowered leaders ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow."
Diana Williams, owner of Strategic Wellness, led a breakout session on "The Antidote for Depression. She said, "It's important to invest in the next generation of leaders, and the student conference was a great opportunity to do just that. The students were attentive and seemed eager for the opportunity to learn how to become stronger leaders. Kudos to the foundation and to App State for making this happen."
Conference organizer, Victoria Schronce, who serves as Director of Catawba Valley Leadership Foundation shared, "The conference would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors, especially Chick-fil-A Viewmont, who provided delicious lunches for all the students, volunteers, and speakers. Their commitment to our community and to the development of youth leadership is commendable. It's community partners like them that make this such a great place to live, work, and make a difference."
Jason Pope, operator of Chick-fil-A Viewmont said, "The student conference was a big success and we were thrilled to be a part of it. Of course we employ many student leaders, so to be able to invest in 120+ young people was a great fit for us, our values, and our mission."