CHAPEL HILL—The North Carolina High School Athletic Association has announced its first annual Student Leadership Conference.

The conference is scheduled for Saturday, April 20, 2013 at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro. The one-day conference will include two powerful keynote presentations and four breakout sessions.

       The event is designed to help student-athletes further develop their understanding of positive leadership and gain knowledge and skills to assist them in effectively leading their peers.

       NCHSAA member schools may register up to two student-athletes who exemplify leadership characteristics or show great leadership potential. One adult chaperone, such as a coach, athletic director or principal, may accompany the student leaders. The conference will be open to 150 student-athletes.

       Presentations will be made by NCHSAA staff, including commissioner Davis Whitfield, deputy commissioner Que Tucker and assistant commissioner Mark Dreibelbis. Also on the agenda are Brenton Sumler, coordinator of leadership and development for student-athletes at Appalachian State University and Barbara Carlton, lead drug and violence prevention specialist for the Alamance-Burlington school system.

       The two keynote speakers will be Kwain Bryant of Charlotte, a program developer and training specialist with Empowerment Exchange, and Stephen Bargatze, director of student services for the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA).

The Student Leadership Conference is hosted by the NCHSAA Student Athlete Advisory Council under the direction of Chiquana Dancy, assistant director for student services with the NCHSAA. Registrations are due from the schools to the NCHSAA by March 30.