High school students attend leadership conference in Washington, D.C.

Eight Bob Jones Academy high school students attended the July 12-16 Youth Leadership Training Conference sponsored by the American Association of Christian Schools.
The students spent a week in Washington, D.C., at the conference, which featured political speakers, a mock Senate, and tours. David Tabor, Rebekah Priest, Anna Ludwig, Faith Worley, Anna Wike, Auria Garland, Kayla Fenstermaker and Emily Davis were chosen to attend the conference based on an essay each wrote in the spring. Faculty members Gail Nicholas (BJA) and Esther Hutcheson (BJU) attended as sponsors.
One of the featured speakers was Federal Tax Court Judge David Gustafson, a graduate of BJA. Students also attended a Congressional Briefing in the Rayburn Office building in which 8 conservative members of the House of Representatives spoke on current government issues. Rep. Trey Gowdy from the South Carolina 4th District and Rep. Jeff Duncan from the 3rd District were among the speakers. While on Capitol Hill, the students also met with S.C. Senators Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
During the week, students participated in a mock Senate under the direction of Gail Nicholas. Each student was assigned a current U.S. senator to role-play. They wrote legislation, met in committees, and debated following the Senate rules as closely as possible. At the end of the session, David Tabor was voted the best Democrat, and Anna Wike and Anna Ludwig were members of the best committee. Auria Garland, Faith Worley and Rebekah Priest were committee chairs.
Tours included the Capitol, the State Department, the monuments, and Arlington Cemetery. At the cemetery the AACS conference participated in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Rebekah Priest was chosen as one of the 4 students to lay the wreath. A highlight of the week was an evening concert by the President’s Marine Band at the Marine Barracks.
At the end of the week, all of the students agreed to the value of the conference. They were encouraged by the great impact of Christians serving in the Congress and were overwhelmed by the splendor of our capital city. All came home challenged to pray for our government leaders and to be more involved in the process.