Nacogdoches High School students to attend Washington D.C. leadership conference

NACOGDOCHES, Texas ( KETK ) – Two Nacogdoches High School juniors will attend the Washington Leadership Training Institute conference in Washington D.C. from Sept. 21 to 25.

Cierra Runnels and Haley Sanchez are cosmetology students who represent Nacogdoches High School in SkillsUSA. It’s an organization that hosts Career and Technical Education (CTE) competitions, like the one in Washington that Runnels and Sanchez have qualified for.

“It’s all about leadership and responsibility and representing CTE,” Runnels said.

Their cosmetology teacher, Jan Holland, will be attending the conference with Runnels and Sanchez. The week-long conference is a great chance to tour the capital but will also be a challenge for the two cosmetology students, according to Holland.

“It’s a full week of activities,” Holland said, “and includes a lot of leadership tests. For example, the students will also be assigned Congressmen to visit as part of the week. It also teaches the students how to advocate for an industry license.”

Runnels and Sanchez will get the chance to visit several D.C. landmarks like the Arlington National Cemetery, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial and the Capitol building.

“It truly is a trip of a lifetime for these students and even for myself,” said Holland. I get so much pleasure out of seeing the growth that the students receive after something such as this trip. I look forward to seeing what it can do for their futures, and we appreciate the school district allowing us to do such a trip.”

To learn more about the conference, visit SkillsUSA online .

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