Since its inception, the Woodland Hills Student Summit’s core mission has been to provide students with a platform to speak about the issues that matter most to them. On Friday, October 23, preparations for the eighth iteration of the Student Summit officially began with the annual fall leadership session, which was hosted by the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. The fall gathering brought together over 120 students from 15 area high schools, and it serves as one of two in-person opportunities for the students to plan and prepare for the full Student Summit, which will be held on March 12 at Penn State Greater Allegheny.
While the Student Summit’s mission remains unchanged, the reasons that students continue to participate in the event in record numbers have evolved. Some are driven simply by the opportunity to use their voice about a topic they’ve already researched and are passionate about. Others see the Student Summit to develop interpersonal skills. And some are motivated by something deeply personal, something they carry deep within through their grief and loss.
Every year presents a new opportunity for previous participants to ascend to leadership roles. Having witnessed the student-led, student-focused discussions and activities in years’ past, they have the foundation to add their own imprint to their topics of choice. That’s why Woodland Hills student Tay’shaun Weston decided to become a student leader in the criminal justice exploration group.
“I wanted to try a new experience, and I helped out a lot last year,” Tay’shaun said. “Everyone deserves a fair chance and justice.”
The student leadership sessions is an introduction to developing and planning the sessions that the students will lead in March. Students take the broad concepts of their topics – mental health, artificial intelligence, athletes roles and responsibilities, community and public safety, grief and loss, fostering healthy relationships, and more – and begin to narrow down their discussion to a specific scope. They develop a presentation, moderate discussions, and lead activities, all alongside their peer participants. It’s the type of challenge that students like Woodland Hills senior Asaan Wallace-Ross believe they need.
“I just need to improve on being more of a leader and coming out of my shell,” Asaan said. Asaan is part of the violence prevention group. As a student-athlete, he’s hopeful others realize the world outside of those areas. “It is important to not revolve your whole life around your sports and school, and it’s OK to actually live your life when you get the chance.”
The student leaders worked alongside experts in their fields, who help provide access to resources, coach them on how to navigate group dynamics, and offer suggestions.
Along with host Woodland Hills, this year’s student leadership group includes Aliquippa, Belle Vernon, Chartiers Valley, City High, Mt. Lebanon, North Allegheny, North Hills, Obama Academy, Penn Hills, SciTech, Seneca Valley, South Fayette, Upper St. Clair, and West Mifflin. The blend of urban, suburban, and rural schools continues the Student Summit’s goal of bringing together students from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds and empowering them to share their perspectives. The student leaders will meet again in February at the Heinz History Center to finalize their presentations and discussion groups before convening the full Student Summit at Penn State Greater Allegheny on March 12, 2027.
The Woodland Hills Student Summit was created by English teacher Erin Wall as a platform for Woodland Hills students to speak out following a series of community incidents in 2018 and 2019. It quickly grew to be a multi-district platform that now covers a wide range of topics hand-picked by students. The Student Summit is possible in part thanks to The HEAR Foundation, Penn State 4-H Extension, the L.I.G.H.T. Education Initiative, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Heinz History Center, and Penn State Greater Allegheny.