Nearly 250 Orange County Public Schools students from 24 local high schools attended Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs\u2019 sixth annual Youth Leadership Conference (YLC) at Valencia College\u2019s west campus on March 11.<\/p>\n
Mayor Jacobs created the program for student leaders when she took office in 2011 in an effort to connect students with their local government. About 1,200 local student leaders have participated in the program since its inception.<\/p>\n
During the event, students attended a series of workshops, including a Government 101 tutorial, as well as mock code enforcement and land use and zoning hearings. The goal of the YLC is to teach the next generation of leaders about county government, how best to participate in community initiatives and how to strengthen their leadership skills.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a few short years, we\u2019ll be turning over the reins of leadership to you,\u201d Mayor Jacobs told the students during the event. \u201cThat\u2019s why we want your feedback to know that we\u2019re going down the right path \u2013 and to prepare you for leadership. I look forward to going to the polls in the future and voting for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Students from Apopka and Oak Ridge High School participated in a mock rezoning hearing on whether to approve or deny a 40,000-seat major league baseball stadium near a residential neighborhood in the Dr. Phillips area.<\/p>\n
Students served as citizens that either opposed or supported the project. Some touted the economic development and job creation benefits, while the opposing side cited noise pollution and wetland endangerment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI learned that it is very hard to be a commissioner because there are so many sides to an issue,\u201d said Oak Ridge High School student Dayjan Lee who served as the District 1 Commissioner. \u201cUltimately, I didn\u2019t support the project because I care about the wetlands and I think that commissioners should and do listen to their constituents \u2013 and a lot of neighbors did not want a major league baseball stadium in their backyards.\u201d<\/p>\n
Students also participated in a Youth Issues Forum led by Mayor Jacobs, Superintendent of Orange County Public Schools Dr. Barbara Jenkins, Orange County School Board Chairman Bill Sublette and Valencia College President Dr. Sanford \u201cSandy\u201d Shugart and discussed topics of importance to this generation. The top issues of concern included school testing, drugs and bullying and job readiness skills.<\/p>\n
President Shugart also addressed the students regarding the different avenues for higher education options and Valencia\u2019s role in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe real measure of a college isn’t what accolades it has received, but what impact it has on students and the community,\u201d Dr. Shugart said. \u201cThis is why Valencia College is so pleased to partner with leaders like Mayor Jacobs to invest in the future leaders of our community. We believe identifying and developing leadership potential early and in every corner of the community is vital to our future.”<\/p>\n