On November 21st a group of standout 7th and 8th grade students stepped out of the classroom and into leadership training at the Portage County Youth Leadership Seminar held at the Garrettsville YMCA—and the day was packed with challenge, teamwork, and growth!
This year our group included 7th Graders Lillian Callahan, Ben Kercher, Acie Korosec, Cade Sanchez, Andrew West, and 8th Graders Daisee Cleavenger, Camden Kleinhen, Rylan Lipply, Emilia Maynard, and Logan Sterrett.
Throughout the day, students worked side-by-side with high school mentors from the Portage County Teen Board, learning what it truly means to lead with confidence, communication, and collaboration. Through interactive activities, motivational speeches, and powerful group discussions, our students were pushed to think differently, work together, and step outside their comfort zones.
Some of the most exciting challenges included:
🏴☠️ Walk the Plank – Four students balanced and walked across two parallel boards while avoiding obstacles, proving that trust and coordination are everything.
🧵 Move the Cup – Teams created a full stack of cups using only string—no hands allowed! Precision and patience were key.
🪄 Magic Carpet Ride – Students flipped a rug completely over without touching the ground, showcasing strategy and communication at its finest.
🧭 Survival Scenario – Teams debated and ranked the 10 items they would bring to survive, practicing decision-making under pressure.
😎 Blindfold Maze – With some students unable to see, teammates had to rely on clear directions and trust to reach the finish.
In addition to the hands-on challenges, students enjoyed a great lunch, explored their personal leadership styles, and reflected on how their unique strengths fit into a successful team. Even better, they worked together to discuss how to bring these leadership skills back into our school hallways to positively impact classmates and school culture.
From teamwork and perseverance to communication and confidence, this experience was all about building the next generation of leaders—and our students rose to the challenge!
We are incredibly proud of our G-Men leaders for representing our school so well and for being ready to lead by example! It was a great day to be a G-Man!
Go G-Men!