The summit, to take place on Tuesday, May 29, is the second of its kind to be run by Upper Hunter high school students – from Merriwa Central, Muswellbrook High, Scone Grammar, Scone High and St Joseph’s Aberdeen – in conjunction with the Where There’s a Will Foundation (WTAW) and will concentrate on building the leadership skills of 150 participants.

Ms Hunt, WTAW board member and retired Scone High principal, said pupils will complete a VIA signature strength survey prior to attending the summit which makes them aware of their character strengths.

“Students will then work with those strengths, look at how to improve them and take that knowledge back to their schools and hopefully bring about change,” Ms Hunt said.

Back in March a group of 20 Upper Hunter Year 11 students travelled to the seventh annual National Student Leadership Conference at St Peters College in Adelaide, accompanied by Ms Hunt.

Now it’s their turn to run the local leadership summit from across the Upper Hunter, as well as Cessnock and Sydney.

“We’re excited [about the event],” Ms Hunt said.

“Two youngsters who went to South Australia last year – Muswellbrook High School captain Marcus Morris and Scone High School captain Johnathon McMahon – will be a couple of the presenters this time around.”

Students from Ravenswood Girls school, Gordon, Sydney and Mount View High School, Cessnock, have been invited to attend as their schools are also members of the Positive Education Schools Association. 

“The organising students have come up with a very creative approach to the summit and I look forward to seeing it pan out,” Ms Hunt said.

Representatives from Head Quarters Australia will also speak regarding leadership and there will be a range of clips for students to watch regarding various aspects of leadership, including the 4-D process (discovery, dream, design, destiny).