N.C. Association of Student Councils Conference grows leadership opportunities for Seaforth

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A Seaforth High School student attended the 62nd North Carolina Association of Student Councils (NCASC) Summer Leadership Workshop on the campus of Mars Hill University during the week of July 11-15.

Sophomore Kyle Stinson spent the week with other student council leaders from across the state in a series of activities to prepare them for the coming year. All activities revolved around the theme of the workshop: “Leadership in Bloom,” the NCASC state theme for 2022-23.

The approximately 120 students were divided into groups resembling the student councils in their home schools. They planned activities and completed projects with their new councils. In addition, they participated in other group team building activities that included boundary breaking, the leadership olympics and folk dancing.

Terri Johnson, executive director of the Missouri Association of Student Councils, was the guest consultant for the week. At Mars Hills, she conducted general sessions, led group activities, taught skill-building classes and worked with the advisers.

With Council E, Stinson was nominated and elected to serve as the secretary for the group. Serving as Seaforth’s first student council secretary, he was able to use his skills to help with the success of Council E by keeping up with the council’s documents, taking meeting minutes and assure delegates names were spelled correctly for the council photo.

“I am so fortunate to have been able to represent Seaforth on the hill!,” Stinson said. “It was super cool to see Northwood Student Council members as well as the central district director, Mr. Foust who taught at Northwood and has been assisting Seaforth’s student council. I am so fortunate to have been given the resources that the NCASC had given to delegates and to also have had the social interaction with different student leaders with different perspectives and to build that connection with them. I look forward to spreading the knowledge with my home council and I left the Hill knowing that I bettered myself as a student leader, Go Hawks!”

Seaforth High School Student Council members will look to attend other workshops, conferences and conventions throughout the year to continue getting more leadership training and activity ideas from other schools.

“From meeting Dr. Jackson, to Jack Hoke with the Superintendents Association to talking and connecting with the students at Seaforth, I have enjoyed every minute and continue to grow from these experiences,” Stinson said. “My goal throughout my next three years in Chatham is to look to develop younger student leaders because I believe everyone is a leader, it’s a matter of if you decide to use your qualities.”

Stinson said he was proud to attend Seaforth High School because of the tremendous opportunities it provides him and his fellow students to grow a new academic and social community in Chatham County.