Elks Sponsor Students To Attend State Conference On ‘Partnership For Leadership’
Story by: Rob Kinch
Rahway High School students Michaela Pereira and Cedric Price, along with teacher Lauren Palermo, were afforded the opportunity to attend the NJ State Elks 28th Annual Peer Leadership Conference in Long Branch thanks to the generous financial support from Rahway’s chapter of The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Through a rigorous program of workshops, presentations by keynote speakers, and numerous featured activities, the three day weekend conference provided students with specific tools and resources to implement action plans in their communities, thus creating a network with the ability to educate their peers, schools, and towns on the skills presented. The conference also offered participants knowledge and information that would directly promote wellness.
Of particular impact on the students were the very personal stories shared by speakers such as Kevin Laue and Rick Minnifield who affirmed the importance of learning how to build selfesteem and personal motivation to achieve one’s goals and aspirations and how to turn a disability into a true ability.
RHS students were especially thankful to have had the opportunity to dialogue and interact with students from throughout the state, which further reinforced in them a true spirit of community. “I realized the usefulness and importance of meeting people not in your class,” affirms Ms. Pereira.
Mr. Price agrees and envisions the “creation of a student center at the high school that would enable all students to get to know one another.” Both students were in accord that the information provided at the conference made them feel “stronger” and more able to “move to the top” of their school work and wish to extend their deep appreciation to Rahway’s Elks for making this memorable and valuable learning experience possible.
(above) Michaela & Cedric with opening presenter, Rick Minnifield at Elks Leadership Conference. Photo by: Lauren Palermo
