Lead, not follow

WARWICK — On Aug. 27, 37 Warwick Valley High School Leadership Academy students, with the help of a dozen of their friends and classmates, executed their plan for this year's Freshman Orientation.

These highly motivated young leaders welcomed their new classmates by distributing schedules and leading informational sessions and walking tours of the building.

They shared their thoughts about some of the values honored by students at Warwick Valley High School.

Throughout the day, the student-leaders functioned as a cohesive group and demonstrated several of the skills they learned during work sessions with their Leadership Academy mentors.

Collaborative efforts“Thank you for the opportunity to be part of the Student Leadership Academy,” said one WVHS senior. “I have never experienced this type of interaction with underclassmen before. It felt special, and the experience has made me grateful to be a leader at Warwick Valley High School.”

The Warwick Valley High School Leadership Academy was developed through the collaborative efforts of the Warwick school district, the Warwick Foundation for Excellence in Learning (WFEL) and members of the Warwick community.

The idea came about as a way to help students develop their leadership potential.

'Clear-thinking citizens'Student-leaders are mentored by volunteers from the community, including school administrators, local business owners, college professors, a village justice, an executive director of a large non-profit organization, and several individuals with vast experience as leadership and career consultants.

"Our student leaders are very fortunate to live in a community with such caring adults,” said Richard Linkens, director of School Operations. “The WVCSD Leadership Academy adult mentors selflessly give their time, talent and energy to help these young people grow into tomorrow's leaders. Helping to nurture clear-thinking citizens is very important work for adults to do. In fact, the very strength of our Democracy depends on such work."