LISBON FALLS – During the fall 2006 and spring 2007 school year, outstanding eighth- and ninth-grade students from across the nation participated in a leadership development program in 22 cities.

Themed “Courageous Leadership,” the National Young Leaders State Conference helped young scholars take an introspective and personalized assessment of their leadership skills and abilities.

Christopher Whitney, a freshman at Lisbon High School, along with his parents, Tom and Karen Whitney, attended the conference the weekend of March 15 through 18 in Boston. Christopher was nominated by two of his former teachers, Kathy Wheat and Jackie Young, eighth-grade teachers at Philip W. Sugg Middle School.

Throughout the four-day program, Christopher and other students built a working “tool kit” of strategies to help them dream, create and implement plans that will change how they view their role as leaders in their communities.

“The steps each person takes in discovering his or her own leadership strengths can be a very personal process,” said Mike Lasday, executive director of the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, the organization that sponsors NYLSC. “The National Young Leaders State Conference helps students get at the heart of their innate talents and skills and will also help them identify how best they can serve within their communities.”

In addition to being the recipient of this leadership award, Christopher is a Junior Volunteer for the Lisbon schools and is also involved in baseball, football, basketball and is an honors student in the class of 2010.

For more information, visit www.cylc.org.