Juniors Graduate from Isle of Wight Student Leadership Institute

Five members of NSA's Class of 2025 have learned invaluable lessons from local leaders and their peers after graduating from the region's first high school leadership program.

The Isle of Wight Student Leadership Institute is sponsored by Smithfield Foods and the Town of Smithfield and was launched by the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce in 2013. Each year, juniors from NSA and other local schools are invited to apply to participate. The students who are selected to participate attend monthly meetings from September through April, where they learn about team building, utilizing resources, building self-confidence and making a difference in their communities. An ethics component is also built into each class. 

Aisha Brown '25, Aubrey Council '25, Anne-Ruffin House '25, Isabella Miller '25 and George Taylor '25 attended the Student Leadership Institute this year. Facilitators for this year's class were Smithfield Councilwoman Renee Rountree, Isle of Wight Economic Development Coordinator Nicole Talton and Senior Director of Major Gifts and Special Giving Programs at Christopher Newport University Jamilia Shipman.

Congratulations to Aisha, Aubrey, Anne-Ruffin, Isabella and George! If you're interested in applying for next year's Student Leadership Institute, the deadline to submit an application is June 7.