A Minden Elementary student, 12-year-old Logan Peterson, received the chance of a lifetime when his teacher, Mrs. Moyer, nominated him to attend the Junior National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. Logan, along with his parents, Greg and Nikki Peterson of Gardnerville, flew back to the nation's capital for the Aug. 6-11 conference.
During the six-day program, Logan took part in educational activities and presentations, as well as meet with elected officials and key congressional staff members on Capitol Hill. Logan joined 270 students from all over the United States to visit historic sites such as Harper's Ferry, the National Museum of American History and Washington, D.C.'s monuments and memorials.
"I personally liked the Lincoln Memorial the best," Logan said. "It was impressive to see the actual memorial represented on our money, the penny and the five dollar bill. I loved being able to actually touch the columns."
The conference, with the theme "The Legacy of American Leadership," introduced the students to the rich tradition of leadership in American history while helping them develop their own leadership skills. Divided up into smaller groups, each day was focused on an individual topic: character, respect, communication, problem solving, team work and finally goal setting.
"Leadership means having the ability to lead people in a respectful, kind and helping way so that they can be empowered to help others," Logan said. "The thing I learned (at the conference) was it is better taking small steps to accomplish big things rather than on big step. I want to influence at my school and community to be a better place."
Part of Logan's experiences was a sleep-over at the Maryland Science Center.
"It taught me you have to look outside the box and believe in yourself in order to do science," Logan said.
"It was rather costly to fly all the way to Washington, D.C.," Logan's father Greg Peterson said. "We had just come back from a vacation when we found out Logan was chosen to attend the conference, but I told him we would find a way."
Logan pitched in, organizing a car wash at Starbucks, waiting tables and serving meals at a church breakfast but most of all the Peterson family is grateful for the many businesses, friends and family who generously donated money to make Logan's trip possible.
"We would like to thank the following," Logan and Greg Peterson said: Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection, IAFF Local 2441, South Lake Tahoe Police Department Association, Starbucks (both Gardnerville and Minden franchises), December Hair Design, Baby Willows, Fresh Ideas, Gray Matter, Carson Valley Beauty Supply and friends and family, Palmer Family, Grandpa Kenney, Grady and Cindy Columbia, Aunt D, Nana Jacobson, Phil, Darlene and Heather Carpenter, Regan and Savannah Roberson, John Gooding, Melinda Rumph, Steve Wetter, Kevin Hanna, Chuck Salerno, Jim Antti, Mike Hastie, Gary and Dot Peterson, Mrs. Folly-Moranco, Debbie Haskins, Scott Sanders and Leona (friend from Raley's).
"It would not have been possible without all your support."
