This spring more than 250 outstanding middle school students from across the United States will take part in a leadership conference in Washington, D.C., themed “Voices of Leadership: Reflecting on the Past to Create the Future.”

The Junior National Young Leaders Conference introduces young people to the rich tradition of leadership throughout American history while helping them develop their own leadership skills.

One of Catoosa’s own, Novella Long, will attend the conference. She is a sixth-grader at Heritage Middle School and is the recipient of countless awards.

Throughout the course of her school career, Long has maintained Star Roll status, has been chosen as an outstanding citizen each year, came in second place in the school speech contest in fifth grade, won first place in the school spelling bee while at Boynton and HMS and won first place in the Catoosa County Spelling Bee in 2009 and also received the Outstanding Student Award and Coach’s Award. She has participated in the Boynton school chorus, Shriner’s Hospital Yard Sale, St. Jude Math-A-Thon and the Catoosa Youth Leadership Academy as well. These impressive accomplishments along with a teacher nomination, application and essays resulted in Novella’s selection for participation in this conference.

During the six day program, scholars will take part in educational activities and presentations. They may meet with elected officials and key congressional staff members on Capitol Hill. Students will also visit relevant sites such as Harpers Ferry, West Virginia and Washington, D.C.’s monuments and memorials.

Additionally, students will study the impact of leadership throughout critical periods of American history, including the Civil War and Reconstruction, World War II, the Great Depression and the Civil Rights movement. This weeklong experience provides students with the opportunity to gain a greater sense of the roles of individuals in American democracy, as well as the responsibilities of being a leader.