INDIANAPOLIS, IN – This week, 140 student ambassadors from 34 states and two Canadian provinces are in Indianapolis to attend the fifth National Student Leadership Summit, hosted by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). North Carolina is represented by three students this year. Tylyia Triggs from Neuse Charter, MiRonda Swepson from River Mill Academy and EJ McArthur from Cape Fear all made the trip with NCHSAA Director of Student Programs, Sports and Championships, Chiquana Dancy.

The NCHSAA is also being represented by NCHSAA alum, David Olds, now a member of the track team at the University of South Carolina, who is one of the Summit's college facilitators this year. Olds served on the NCHSAA's Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) during his time in the Association.

The annual Summit has been held by the NFHS since 2015 and focuses on relevant and contemporary issues that will help participants hone their leadership skills and realize the privilege and power of their influence in their school, community and state. "This is the only national student leadership summit for athletes and performing arts participants," said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS Director of Sports, Sanctioning and Student Services, the event's coordinator. "The NFHS feels these young people have inherent leadership abilities and are future leaders. The NFHS plans to direct these high school students on how to develop their leadership abilities and interact with their peers from around the United States and Canada."

At this year’s summit, presentations by content speakers include: “Perspective and Inclusion” by Kevin Ringhofer, Ph.D., a national trainer and consultant specializing in prevention, health promotion and leadership development; “Relationship Building and Maintenance” by Deb Hult, a nationally recognized presenter in relational and motivational leadership and co-founder of Core Trainings; “Creating a Healthy Culture on Your Team” by Gregory A. Dale, Ph.D., a professor of sport psychology and sport ethics at Duke University and also the director of the sport psychology and leadership programs for Duke Athletics; and “Brain Mapping or (Goal Setting in the 21st Century)” by Omari Pearson, who serves as an author, speaker, facilitator, mentor and consultant to high schools, colleges, universities and multi-national corporations, and is quickly becoming a sought-after leader in education-driven life skills and development.

“We felt it was necessary to match some of the best and brightest students with the some of the best and brightest content experts,” Hopkins said.

Registration for the NSLS for student ambassadors is free, and the NFHS provides hotel rooms, summit materials, meals, local programming and local transportation. Additionally, adult ambassadors are provided with summit materials, meals, local programming and local transportation. For more information on the NSLS, visit the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Resources,” then “Conferences & Meetings.”