Grant County Scholar Speaks at Leadership Summit

Jacob Barnett, a Marion High School junior and third-year participant in the Project Leadership mentoring program, was invited to speak at the recent Evan Bayh Service Leader Summit for youth in Indianapolis.

Barnett, whose speech focused on the topic of dedication, told his audience about the importance of teens aspiring to be leaders.

“We’ve got to have young leaders who can walk their talk, young leaders who can keep going despite obstacles or hard challenges, young leaders who are reliable and trustworthy, and young leaders who are prepared,” he said.

Barnett said he has a number of dedicated people in his life, including, his parents, his grandmother, his youth pastor, and his mentor, Stephanie Santarosa. Barnett recognized his mentor in his speech.

“Stephanie represents my definition of dedication — to be come more involved in the things you say and to invest or spend more time in whatever you are into,” Barnett said.
Barnett has been a mentee in the Project Leadership mentoring program since his freshman year. Mentors, who are matched with students in the Twenty-first Century Scholars program, meet with mentees weekly to encourage them in their personal and academic efforts. Scholars, if all program requirements are met, receive four years of tuition to one out of 80 public Indiana colleges or universities.

The Service Leader Summit is to recognize the efforts of Indiana’s student volunteers. Senator Bayh, along with Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, sponsors the summit each October to coincide with National Make a Difference Day. The summit consists of a morning presentation and program, a leadership lunch, an afternoon service project and a time of reflection.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact TAMMY PEARSON/Project Leadership/765-651-0650