Together 3.0 Regional Student Leadership Conferences make powerful impact
Posted: Thursday, December 12, 2024 - 10:10 AM
During a three-week span last month and into early December, the Minnesota State High School League and its Student Advisory and Leadership Team (SALT) hosted four regional conferences. These events created student connections from different areas of the Twin Cities and in Greater Minnesota. The robust and vibrant conferences featured nationally recognized speakers and facilitators who empowered attendees to develop leadership skills that will positively impact their school environments.
The Together 3.0 Regional Student Leadership Conferences were held in Willmar on Nov. 12; Rochester on Nov. 19; Brooklyn Park on Nov. 21 and Bemidji on Dec. 3. Following the success of the statewide conference in 2023 held at the St. Paul RiverCentre, the League and its SALT student-leadership group expanded the reach of the event by focusing on four regional sites in 2024.
“It has been really fun and interesting to hear the different points of view and the experiences of students from all over the state,” said Grace McNamee, a senior at Nevis High School.
The student leaders of the SALT team met on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at Bethel University’s Anderson Center to review the four regional conferences, set sights on planning for 2025 and collaborate with student leaders representing MN Association of Honor Societies and MN Association of Student Councils.
In addition to supporting their individual school communities, SALT members play a pivotal role in facilitating key League events, including state tournaments. They have also been instrumental in the League's statewide Behavior Expectations initiative, which promotes positive conduct for both spectators and participants at school events.
“The SALT members do an incredible job,” said League Associate Director Charlie Campbell. “They work really hard to promote opportunities for student interaction, growth and leadership development. Their focus is on fostering safe, respectful and inclusive environments in both athletics and the fine arts.”
Here are the members of SALT for the 2024-2025 school year:
- Quinlyn Borner, Chanhassen, sr.
- William Cannon, Farmington, jr.
- Isabelle Dingmann, Annandale, jr.
- Britta Elliott, Mound Westonka, jr.
- Renae Foster, St. Michael-Albertville, sr.
- Paige Haala, Sleepy Eye, sr.
- Madelyn Harvey, Blooming Prairie, jr.
- Reagan Hawkinson, Concordia Academy, jr.
- Lindsey Linares, Willmar, sr.
- Grace McNamee, Nevis, sr.
- Liam Meuwissen, Prior Lake, sr.
- Danielle Nguyen, Park Center, sr.
- Reese Norton, Austin, sr.
- Noella Ross, Chaska, jr.
- Luke Ryerse, East Ridge, sr.
- Brandon Valladares, Willmar, sr.
In addition to the Minnesota State High School League, other professional groups pledging their support to the leadership conferences include: Minnesota Interscholastic Activities Administrators Association (MNIAAA), Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD), Minnesota High School Coaches Association (MHSCA), Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP), Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) and the Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA).
During this conference in Willmar, student leaders engaged in breakout sessions designed to create learning and an exchange of ideas.
Omari Pearson, president of Passion to Purpose, left, gives a fist-bump to a student participant during the conference in Rochester. He was a primary speaker during the all of the conferences.
Students engage in conversation and information-sharing during the conference in Brooklyn Park.
Deb Hult, front row left, is a mentoring coach, international speaker and trainer. During this meeting in Bemidji, she worked with students in an exercise to find creative ways of crossing a room without duplicating the method of someone else.
A t-shirt exchange was a highlight of the conference as students proudly shared the colors of other schools.
