Youth Leadership Graduates

 Mason Ford 

My plans for after high school are to join the United States Marine Corps which I am currently enlisted in. Make a career in Special Forces and Scout Sniper. I will be in the Marine Corps for 20 plus years. Retire and create my own business of some sort.

I am taking away from this program, a better knowledge of leadership and what it takes to be a leader to everyone else around me. 

  Kelsey Hansen  

After graduation I plan on attending Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota and majoring in biology. I will also be a member of the Augsburg swim team. I hope to one day become a physician assistant and work in the Duluth/Superior area.

First off, I would like to thank Dave, Marge, Mike, and Charlie for all of their insight and knowledge that has been handed down to me by being a part of Youth Leadership. I leave with a better understanding of our community, and what it takes for a community to be successful. Through different activities and meetings, I have learned how to become a better communicator, listener, and leader. Youth Leadership has allowed me to grow and to develop into the person I am today. I plan on using the lessons I have learned in the program and applying them to situations I will face later in life.

   Nolan Holcombe

My plans after graduation are to go to the Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter Minnesota.  Before my expected journey to St. Peter I am hoping to play junior hockey for a year or two before pursuing my college academics in the Physical Therapy field.

This program instilled in me the ability to be a more natural leader.  It has also taught me the different job opportunities in Superior.  The greatest thing I have taken away from the Leadership Program is the new friends I have made in the process of going to Florida and touring the businesses.  

 Aaron Johnson

Next year, I will be attending the University of Minnesota Duluth for Biological Sciences

The major thing I will take away from Youth Leadership is that a good leader cannot be effective without a good team behind him. I have also learned a lot about our city/community and discovered businesses that I had never heard of. Through good leadership and direction, one can learn how to make a difference in the community and help others. Finally, I have strengthened bonds with many friends that I will hold for the rest of my life.

 Blake Johnson

I will be attending the Peter Kiewit Institute at the University of Nebraska to majors in Architectural Engineering and Business Administration.

The Leadership Program has been an extremely influential experience. It has enabled me to develop an awareness of the businesses in my community and the individuals that  make the businesses successful. Before participating in the Leadership Program I had no idea of the complexities of local businesses and the opportunities that they provide to local residents. My experiences in the Leadership Program have helped me to confirm my interests in business and have inspired me to pursue an MBA to complement an engineering degree.

   Nicholas Kirchoff

After I graduate from High school I will go to Basic Training in Fort Leonard Wood MI.  After Basic Training I plan to attend the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.

There were many things I learned from this program.  I learned how to communicate with people, how to give back to my community, how to become a leader, but most importantly I learned how to step out of my shell and not be afraid to step up to the plate and try new things.  How to not care what others may think of you but to do what you know is right, to not be afraid, and to have a little fun.

 Alexandra Ledin

After graduation I am enrolled to start my generals off at Lake Superior College.  After finishing my general courses I am either going to further my education at the University of Stout with their Travel, Tourism, and Hotel Management degree and become an Event Planner.  Or I am going to move to the cities and enroll at the Aveda Institute in Minneapolis.  The truth is I have no idea what I would like to do.  During my Senior year of Forensics at our state competition my gold round judge gave me inspiring advice and compliments that stuck with me, and made me re-think my goals in life.  So who knows I might move to New York, throw everything away and become an actress! That may be highly un-likely, but I do love acting and I am interested in furthering myself in this field as well.  All I know right now is that LSC is a good starting point for me. 

You sign up for many things during your high school career to look better on your college application, and Leadership looked like it would be another gold star to the admissions office to where ever I was going to apply.  Youth Leadership ended up being so much more than a gold star.  After two years of being in this leadership program I am proud to say that my outlook on life has changed.  My outlook on the town of Superior has changed, my outlook on individuals has changed, and my outlook on myself has changed.  Junior year of the program makes you realize actually how many different businesses we have right here in Superior.  And where that was really fascinating... Senior year is what really stood out for me. It made me realize what I, individually am capable of.  I was one of the lucky seniors that were able to go to Disney this year.  And this year at Disney, I learned more coming back then I thought I did going my Junior year.  I felt as if I was a part of a step process.  Whereas Junior year was my introductory phase and then Senior year it was my year to make it happen.  Leadership has taught me how to work with a group of people with many diverse ideas and take their ideas to find a middle ground to reach one common goal.  The situations and events during Youth Leadership have been all life lessons that will stick with me forever.  I appreciate the opportunities I was given and the accomplishments I got out of them.  Like I said, Youth Leadership was so much more than a gold star.

  Hannah Leland

After graduation I will attend the college of saint Scholastica and peruse a degree in nursing. While going to school I plan to work as a certified nursing assistant.

Due to this program I am no longer shy,  I have learned skills to work well with others, and most of all how to be a good leader.

  Danielle Magdzas

Next year, I am attending Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to pursue a career in the medical field. 

In the past two years, I've learned that a being a leader is not an accomplishment, It is a way of life, and a never-ending process.

   Alyssa Maki

Upon graduating, I plan to further my education at Lake Superior College. I have no idea what my future holds for me yet, so that is why I plan on taking a wide variety of generals at LSC to maybe spark an interest in something. I'm going to get my Associate in Arts degree at LSC, and then hopefully transfer to a college in California where new opportunities await and then hopefully I can pursue a career.

After being in Youth Leadership for two years, I have learned so much. I have learned a lot about my community and how a community supports each other and operates. But underlying a great community is great leadership, and I feel that after being in this organization, I can somewhat contribute to a better community. It's like the saying leave something better than what you first saw it like. If great leadership is put into a community full heartily, there will be great results. This can be applied to any situation in life. There are tasks when people need to step up and lead to get things done. It's not as hard as it seems, as long as you have the heart and willingness to do good things to help out, anything can be done.

Thank you Dave for making such an impact on me these last few years. This program has helped me understand things far more than I ever expected, and I have you to thank for that. What you're doing for this program is amazing, and I can't wait for it to keep growing and impacting our community.

  Nicole Manion

After graduation I plan to attend Saint Scholastica. I am not yet sure what I will be majoring in and will explore that within my first year at Saint Scholastica.

After two years in the youth leadership I am proud to say that I have learned a lot about the community and local businesses. Many of these businesses I did not know of until touring them. It was very interesting to meet these entrepreneurs and learn their stories. I have met many new people within the community and have really enjoyed being a part of Youth Leadership.

  Kaitlyn Mergen

My plans for after graduation are to attend Minnesota State University Mankato. I will be pursuing a major in Nursing. At the same time I will be obtaining a minor in Military Science through the ROTC program.

The Youth Leadership Program has been an adventure. From learning about the community, going to Disney, and doing the Community Outreach project I have learned what it means to be a leader. It has also taught me how to overcome my personal fears to accomplish what is best for the group. At Minnesuing Acres we did various activities that pushed a person beyond their comfort levels teaching us how to develop as a better team player. Being in this program has also helped me be a leader on the ice and in the field. "Leadership is diving for a loose ball, getting the crowd involved, getting other players involved. It's being able to take it as well as dish it out. That's the only way you're going to get respect from the players." -Larry Bird

  Gerald Mikel

After high school graduation I plan on attending the University of Wisconsin Madison. I plan on majoring in chemistry to prepare myself to pursue my career choice of becoming a dentist. 

When I first joined Leadership I was not sure what to expect. Through the activities in the program I not only learned a lot about the community of Superior, Wisconsin but I also developed and strengthened my personal skills as a leader.  This past March I had the opportunity to serve as a senior leader during the junior trip to Florida. Through that experience I was able to put my leadership skills into practice by encouraging juniors to participate in programs.

Being in the Leadership Program has given me a new perspective on Superior, I am more appreciative for what I have today.  Leadership has given me the opportunity to learn more about my peers and build friendships that will last forever.  

    Richard Mikel

Throughout much of my life I have dreamed of becoming a doctor. Specifically I hope to become a Neurosurgeon. In order to do so I plan on attending the University of Wisconsin Madison. There I plan on majoring in biology while also taking the prerequisites for entry into medical school.                                                                                                                                                

In these last two years through the Leadership program, I have learned much about both my community and myself. I have learned much about the many jobs and business within Superior and what they have to offer. Also I believe that my experiences within the program have improved my communication skills and pushed me to be more outgoing than I ever would have been otherwise.

 Steven Mikel

After graduating from high school I plan on attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison to pursue a degree in Biology or Finance.

Participating in the leadership program has been a tremendously valuable experience. I’ve built stronger friendships, discovered great things about my community, and have learned to further appreciate local businesses.  The program has inspired me to be a more confident leader, to give back to others, and to be a more mature role model

 Kristina O'Brien

After graduating from High School I plan to attend the University of Wisconsin River Falls to pursue a degree in Mathematics Education. I plan to become certified as a Secondary Education teacher and eventually work in a Junior High or High School setting.

After two years in the Youth Leadership Program I am taking away a great deal of experiences. I have gained a more in depth knowledge of the businesses in our community, some of which I did not know existed, and how they each work to bring something unique to the area. I have developed working relationships with fellow students and community members.  Lastly, in the Youth Leadership Program I have become aware of the ways in which great success has been achieved by others and how I can apply their ideas to achieve success in my own life.

  Abigail O'Shaughnessy

After high school I will be attending St. Scholastica and pursuing a bachelors degree in nursing.

Over the past 2 years I've taken away many lessons about dealing with people.  Working with a bunch of other kids your age isn't always the easiest thing to do.  I learned to be patient and allow myself to have fun.  I tend to keep to myself, but leadership forces you to think outside yourself.  Florida was also a blast and I enjoyed being with people who I didn't usually talk to.

  Jennifer Ostrowski
I have received a fellowship through a program called Global Citizen Year. In cooperation with organizations including National Geographic, the Nike Association, and Stanford University, Global Citizen Year places students in internships in South America, Africa, and Asia. I plan to defer my admission to American University in Washington, DC for one year in order to intern at a public health clinic in Brazil. Upon returning home, I hope to earn an undergraduate degree in biology at American University and go on to medical school. 

Investment is key. Whatever your intent, if you are only half-committed, you cannot expect more than half the success of someone who is fully committed. When you are wholly invested, however, the possibilities are endless—not only does it allow you to reach your greatest potential, but it also allows you to inspire others to invest in their own.  

 Ryan Paulson

I will be attending UWS for my undergrad degree, and plan to work towards a major in computer science.

Being a part of the leadership program has certainly opened my eyes to multiple things. First of all, I learned a lot more than I used to know about business and government thanks to the tours during junior year. Secondly, I was encouraged to refine my own skills as a leader and communicator in all sorts of different ways (i.e. the philanthropy group project, the Florida improv program etc…). Overall it was a fun, challenging, and beneficial two years of being involved with the program, and I can take away many of the skills I have developed through it into almost every aspect of my life.

  Kailey Phillips

After high school, I will be attending California State University Channel Islands in Camarillo, CA.

Although the trip to Florida taught me more about personal independence than any other life experience I've ever had has, the most important lesson I've learned over my two years has been how essential teamwork is to the success of any endeavor. I may think I'm the best person for getting a job done but no matter how bright and prepared you are, there will always be someone who sees the picture a little bit differently and will bring something unique and significant to the table.

  Julianna Polson

After graduation, I plan attending the University of Wisconsin-Superior and pursuing a career in either Secondary Education or Accounting and Business Finance.

By being involved in Youth Leadership, I am taking away relationships and opportunities I never would have been offered if not in the program. I have met so many amazing people, and seen so many incredible things, whether in Disney World, Minnesuing Acres, or here in our home town. I have become close to so many people that I do not normally talk to, and I cannot thank everyone involved in this program enough for providing me with additional friendships that I know will last forever. Youth Leadership has taught me how to be confident in myself and to never be afraid to show who you really are. If there is one lesson I have learned throughout my experience in Youth Leadership, it that each of us has the power to accomplish our dreams if we have the spirit to go after them.   

 Rachel Radzak

After graduating, I plan to attend the University of Wisconsin-Stout to major in Interior Design and double minor in Spanish and Business Administration.

After two full years of being in the program I've developed a greater sense of how to be a "team player" and work more effectively with others. Many activities in the program, from Minnesuing to monthly meetings, require teamwork and collaboration and I have definitely improved skills in those areas because of the program.

  Jada Rochon

After high school I am planning on working as a CNA for about a year and then going back to school in the fall of 2013 for my RN degree. I am doing this that way I can save money and not have to take out so many loans for schooling.

I am taking away the knowledge of what Superior really has to offer, and the businesses that are here but are somewhat hidden. I never knew that Charter films was a plastic company, I assumed like others that it was a film making company. Youth leadership also helped me build my self-confidence; it really taught me how to ‘break out of my shell’ and actually not be afraid to talk to new people or in front of people.

  Sarah Runser

My current plans for after high school are to attend the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I plan on majoring in History and Spanish, as well as participating in a museum studies program, in the hopes of pursuing a career as a museum curator.

I have taken away many things from participating in the Youth Leadership Program. Through Youth Leadership, I learned about several businesses in our community that I never knew existed and what some of those companies had to offer our community. I also learned valuable lessons about different types of leaders and how everyone has the potential to take on a leadership role. Perhaps the biggest thing I have taken away from the program is that I have learned how to become a more vocal and outgoing leader.

 Morgan Sannes

Next year I will be attending Virginia Tech to further my education.  I intend to major in computer, electrical, or process engineering, while minoring in business management. By combining these disciplines, I hope to one day become a leader in improving technology.

Through the Chamber Youth Leadership Program, I have been educated about the relationship between businesses and a community.  As a member of a community, I now realize the importance of contributing what you have to offer as well as taking advantage of all the opportunities made available to you. I have also been able to experience firsthand the satisfaction of giving back to local businesses and helping those in need.  This program has given me a deeper understanding of the interdependence of entities within a community.

 Laura Schlacks

After high school, I plan to attend Boston College. I hope to study either biology or something in the humanities and pursue a minor in Spanish.

Youth leadership has taught me about the wide range of opportunities in this community. I’ve toured numerous businesses, such as Genesis and Charter Films, and met Superior’s leading business people. The most rewarding aspect of this program, however, was the opportunity to implement all the leadership skills and ideas that I had learned through the first year of the program and use them to plan and carry out a concrete project that benefitted community. Most programs simply tell students the qualities of good leadership, but this program let us act on them.


Carolyn Severin

After high school I plan to attend WITC for their cosmetology program.  I then plan to get a business degree and someday open up my own hair salon here in Superior.

After two years of being a part youth leadership I learned how to be a better leader and someone that others can look up to.  In my first year of leadership I learned that our community has a lot more to offer than I had thought.  We have many great businesses in our community.  In my second year of leadership I was a part of the school group. One thing the school group did was plan a day at Northern Lights to teach the kids about being a leader and not a bully.  During this day I was able to use the leadership skills I had learned from the year before.  Setting up the day at Northern lights I learned that planning and being organized is very important to be successful. This program has helped me step out of my comfort zone and get involved. 

 Katie Stenroos

In the fall I will be attending the University of Wisconsin River Falls to major in Animal Science with an Equine Emphasis.  At this time I am undecided on a future career, but I am exploring multiple possibilities.  No matter where I find myself living or working, I plan on remaining involved in 4-H and will always own and ride horses. 

During my two years in the Superior-Douglas County Youth Leadership Program, I have gained leadership and communication skills which have made me a more confident individual.  Through the opportunity of visiting many local business and meeting with business leaders, I learned so much more about the community that I live in.  I have a bigger appreciation for Douglas County and the people that work and live here.  The experiences I have had in this program have made me a better person ready to handle whatever life throws at me. 

  Anne Tracy

Next year I will be attending the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. I plan to study in an area of business and play collegiate golf during my time there.

For the past two years, Youth Leadership has given me the chance to break out of my shell and become a strong leader. I have become more confident in myself, have learned how to trust and depend on others, and have created a new found respect for my community. Every meeting, tour, and trip for Leadership has made me the changed person I am today and affect who I will make myself to be in the future. I'd like to thank Dave for all the time he has dedicated to this program, and especially for making my childhood dream in Disney come true. Also to Marge, Charlie, and everyone else that has helped our senior group these past two years, you helped us reach our fullest potentials and made our last two years truly ones to remember.

 Luke Tunell

Through the Youth Leadership program I have learned about many different businesses located within Superior, WI. Through meeting with many of the representatives of the local organizations and businesses I have been able to improve my communication skills. I have also developed stronger friendships with many of my peers and adults within the community. I have become more aware of how I can be a strong leader school, community, and my family.

 Jessica Xiong

After high school I plan to continue my education at the University Wisconsin Superior.  I am not quite sure which career I am going to pursue, but I am going to get my generals done and from there I will get more incite of who and what I want to become.

My experience in Youth Leadership has given me the opportunity to make in effort in helping and changing my community for the better.  It has taught me that even at this age one can make a big difference in their community and the people around them.  The Youth Leadership program has also given me ideas of who I am as a leader and who I want to become. The Youth Leadership Program has been an interesting and fun place to be a part of!

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy" - Martin Luther King Jr.