Megan Fuchs of Le Roy, was among nine students to be recognized at the Soaring Higher Leadership Award Ceremony at Elmira College.

The students made up the second cohort to complete the leadership program since it launched in the fall of 2022. Students apply and are selected to attend the program facilitated by Dr. Elizabeth Lambert, Vice President of Campus Life and Dean of Students, Larry Parker, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Ytzel Flores Cristiansen, Assistant Dean of Students. 

The content for the program is based on the book, "The Student Leadership Challenge: Five Practices For Becoming an Exemplary Leader" by James Kouzes and Barry Posner.

Throughout the 10-week program, students participated in individual and group activities that uncovered insights into their strengths and weaknesses. 

They learned to use their self-knowledge, such as identifying their values, to make better choices. Every other week, they listened to a new guest speaker about what they've learned as leaders.

Just prior to the Awards Ceremony, the Soaring Leaders presented multi-year plans they hope to achieve. The presentations provided the students an opportunity to practice their newly learned skills and take their first steps as leaders. 

Soaring Higher Leadership Awardees:

• Linda Avery '25
• Sophia Compeau '25
• Megan Fuchs '26
• Madison Morton '24
• Olivia Nittinger '26
• Nathan Romano '25
• Lillian Sensinger '26
• Gabriella Swift '26
• Miranda Waterman '25

Do you find speaking up in meetings to be intimidating?

Now is the time to make it happen!

Visit Speak Up Toastmasters Open House 

Tuesday, October 22, 2019 from 7 pm – 9 pm 

190 Oak Street, Batavia

At the Emmanuel Baptist Church, next to Bob Evans

Guests are always welcome for free!

Light refreshments will be provided.

How will you grow?

· Build leadership skills

· Improve public speaking skills

· Practice writing speeches and presenting in a group setting

· Gain a competitive advantage in the workplace

· Networking opportunities in a small and supportive environment

· Build self-confidence and self-awareness

· Allows for unlimited personal growth

· Ability to maximize your potential

We are accepting applications for new members. Meetings are the 2nd & 4th Tuesday every month @ 7 p.m. 190 Oak St., Batavia (use rear entrance, Emmanuel Baptist Church). Space is limited CALL NOW to reserve your seat today. Guests are always welcome to visit for FREE. Like us on Facebook for event reminders. http://www.speakuptoastmasters.org call/text 585-993-0515, or email leslieagmarino@yahoo.com. Walk-ins are welcome.

How will you grow?

· Build leadership skills

· Improve public speaking skills

· Practice writing speeches and presenting in a group setting

· Gain a competitive advantage in the workplace

· Networking opportunities in a small and supportive environment

· Build self-confidence and self-awareness

· Allows for unlimited personal growth

· Ability to maximize your potential

We are accepting applications for new members. Meetings are the 2nd & 4th Tuesday every month @ 7 p.m. 190 Oak St., Batavia (use rear entrance, Emmanuel Baptist Church). Space is limited CALL NOW to reserve your seat today. Guests are always welcome to visit for FREE. Like us on Facebook for event reminders. http://www.speakuptoastmasters.org call/text 585-993-0515, or email leslieagmarino@yahoo.com. Walk-ins are welcome.

How will you grow?

· Build leadership skills

· Improve public speaking skills

· Practice writing speeches and presenting in a group setting

· Gain a competitive advantage in the workplace

· Networking opportunities in a small and supportive environment

· Build self-confidence and self-awareness

· Allows for unlimited personal growth

· Ability to maximize your potential

We are accepting applications for new members. Meetings are the 2nd & 4th Tuesday every month @ 7 p.m. 190 Oak St., Batavia (use rear entrance, Emmanuel Baptist Church). Space is limited CALL NOW to reserve your seat today. Guests are always welcome to visit for FREE. Like us on Facebook for event reminders. http://www.speakuptoastmasters.org call/text 585-993-0515, or email leslieagmarino@yahoo.com. Walk-ins are welcome.

How will you grow?

· Build leadership skills

· Improve public speaking skills

· Practice writing speeches and presenting in a group setting

· Gain a competitive advantage in the workplace

· Networking opportunities in a small and supportive environment

· Build self-confidence and self-awareness

· Allows for unlimited personal growth

· Ability to maximize your potential

We are accepting applications for new members. Meetings are the 2nd & 4th Tuesday every month @ 7 p.m. 190 Oak St., Batavia (use rear entrance, Emmanuel Baptist Church). Space is limited CALL NOW to reserve your seat today. Guests are always welcome to visit for FREE. Like us on Facebook for event reminders. http://www.speakuptoastmasters.org call/text 585-993-0515, or email leslieagmarino@yahoo.com. Walk-ins are welcome.

• How will you grow?
• Build leadership skills
• Improve public speaking skills
• Practice writing speeches and presenting in a group setting
• Gain a competitive advantage in the workplace
• Networking opportunities in a small and supportive environment
• Build self-confidence and self-awareness
• Allows for unlimited personal growth
• Ability to maximize your potential

We are accepting applications for new members. Meetings are the 2nd & 4th Tuesday every month @ 7 p.m. 190 Oak St., Batavia, use rear entrance of Emmanuel Baptist Church. Space is limited CALL NOW to reserve your seat today. Guests are always welcome to visit for FREE.  Like us on Facebook for event reminders. http://www.speakuptoastmasters.com  call/text 585-993-0515, or email leslieagmarino@yahoo.com. Walk-ins are welcome.

Visit our website speakuptoastmasters.org

Call/text 585-993-0515, or email, LeslieAGMarino@yahoo.com. 

              Be Our Guest!

Tanner Kolb is 12 years old, a sixth-grader at Batavia Middle School, and is officially an alumni of the Junior National Young Leaders Conference (JrNYLC). Tanner was nominated by her fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Brown at John Kennedy School, to participate in the annual event held at our nation's capital, and made the journey Oct. 8 -13.

The JrNYLC is designed for high-achieving middle-school students, and offers these students "the opportunity to learn about leadership by studying the leaders of the past and by focusing on social advocacy to make a positive impact in their homes and communities." (http://www.cylc.org/jrnylc/JrNYLC_about.cfm)

Tuesday night, Tanner was excited to share her experiences. She said her favorite place she visited was Harper's Ferry, where she participated in a Civil War era battle reenactment. She met and made friends with students from not just across the continental 48 states, but places like New Zealand, Guam, Germany and Hawaii, and now has herself some pen pals.

When asked what lessons she learned from her experience, Tanner told me "Anyone can be a leader, if they're willing to work for it. Leaders are not born that way, they have to work for it." I asked what message she would like to send to other students who might be able to earn a nomination to participate. Her response was simply, "I'd tell them go for it. Definitely go for it."

She was written a thank-you letter to all her supporters, whose fundraisers made the trip possible. Afterall, going to D.C. can be pricey.

Here's her thank-you letter in full:

"I would like to personally thank everyone who donated pop cans, bought something from one of my fundraisers, or donated money to help me go on my trip to Washington, D.C. I had tons of fun and went to lots of interesting places.

I went to Harper's Ferry, an old Civil War town where we reenacted a battle. We went to lots of memorials, like the Lincoln, the Martin Luther King Jr., the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and many other places such as the Capitol building, the White House, and the Museum of American History. We ate at the Hard Rock Cafe, and Buca di Beppo restaurant.

I made lots of new friends from all around the world and I still talk to them a lot.  We also had a sleepover at the Maryland Science Center! I would like to say a special thank you to my fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Brown, who nominated me for this trip. It really means a lot to me that she believed in me that much. I loved this trip and it would not have been possible without your help.

Thanks you so much,

Tanner Kolb