Student leaders from multiple school districts throughout Western Pennsylvania gathered on Wednesday, February 12 to make the final preparations for the sixth annual Woodland Hills Student Summit. The multi-district event will take place on March 14 at Penn State Greater Allegheny.
Leadership workshops like the one held at the Heinz History Center on Wednesday are critical components in the preparation process, as it provides students an opportunity to work in-person with their fellow leaders from other schools. In March, the student leaders will host discussion groups with approximately 250 students from nearly two dozen school districts. The topics are hand-picked by the students and feature subjects mental health, social media influence, human rights, creating positive change in schools, trauma and informed care, the evolution of AI, and more.
Student leaders this year hail from Woodland Hills High School, Aliquippa High School, Belle Vernon High School, Brashear High School, Carlynton High School, City of Bridges High School, Greater Johnstown High School, Mt. Lebanon High School, Penn Hills High School, Sci Tech High School, Seneca Valley High School, Taylor Allderdice High School, West Mifflin High School, and Westmont Hilltop High School.
As part of the workshop, students heard from co-sponsor Mr. Matthew Crutchman from Penn State 4-H Extension, who reiterated several key techniques to navigate the typical conflicts that can arise in group projects and in discussion groups. Students role-played through conflict scenarios to demonstrate how to develop solutions focused on compromises, and they also practiced a few tips to handle anxiety and stress.
Then they split into their discussion groups to refine their presentations and plans for March. The students scattered throughout the museum, where powerful examples of leadership, empowerment, and innovation could be found in the exhibits that celebrated the impact of regional, national, and global icons.
They also had the opportunity to meet with Leon Ford, an activist, author, and motivational speaker who has been a supporter of the Student Summit for several years. Mr. Ford was paralyzed after being shot multiple times by a police officer during a case of mistaken identity. During the workshop, Mr. Ford teamed up with staff from the Heinz History Center to share a few personal items from that tragic night that the museum has preserved on his behalf. Students who were interested could view the items and talk with Mr. Ford about trauma, mental health, and being a positive force.
Students later took some time to create social media content to spotlight their discussion topics and finalize any additional plans needed to make last-minute preparations for the summit in March. The Woodland Hills contingent was also surprised with a visit by alum Robert Williams, a 2018 graduate who stopped by to chat with his former teachers and the current students.
The Woodland Hills Student Summit was founded by English teacher Ms. Erin Wall six years ago in the wake of several tragic events in the district community. What began as an internal platform for Woodland Hills High School students has now expanded to be a multi-district event featuring students from all throughout Western Pennsylvania. The Student Summit is made possible thanks to the generosity of the HEAR Foundation and partnerships from Penn State 4-H Extension and the LIGHT Education Initiative.