Our Lady of Lourdes Students Accepted Into Leadership Summit

Two eighth-grade students at Our Lady of Lourdes School — Ben Byers and Alex Piontek — will participate in a People to People Leadership Summit this summer.

Byers and Piontek, along with students from around the country, will take part in the seven-day program at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

The students will learn about effective leadership and how to develop their own leadership abilities, as well as how to apply those skills upon returning home.

Hands-on activities, such as a team-building rope challenge course, are planned, as well as professional speakers and small-group workshops. The students will visit the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, tour the Harvard and MIT campuses and walk the Freedom Trail.

Byers and Piontek were nominated for the program by their teacher Lyn Brunner. The students had to complete an application form and supply letters of recommendation. Both boys will attend St. Francis Borgia Regional High School in the fall.

Byers is the son of Cheryl and Barry Byers and Piontek is the son of Beckie and Mark Piontek, all of Washington.

People to People Leadership Summits are held in prestigious venues around the country and provide students a chance to explore the various aspects of leadership in specific contexts.

Participants also gain insights to guide their educational and professional careers, and benefit from a strong focus on college admissions. Through workshops, presentations, excursions, and discussions, Leadership Ambassadors attain a clear advantage as they pursue their selected fields of interest.

Students will have the opportunity to meet with admissions officers and gain valuable advice for navigating the college application process.

The programs offer students a unique blend of specialized educational, leadership, and cultural exposure as well as itineraries filled with the highlights of the hosting communities. Students enjoy a unique chance to enhance their self-confidence, as well as experience life-changing growth in personal responsibility, global leadership, and cultural diversity.