National Sojourners® Students Attend Spirit of America Youth Leadership at Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge
National Sojourners® Students Attend Spirit of America Youth Leadership at Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge
Over 40 National Sojourners® students traveled to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, to attend the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge’s Spirit of America Youth Leadership program – a transformative four-day residential program that engages high school students from across the country with the first principles of freedom.
Both Freedoms Foundation and National Sojourners® have partnered for many years to provide students the unique opportunity to travel to historic Valley Forge and participate in several inspiring and educational activities, including a mock congressional debate, free enterprise challenge, workshops, and historical site visits while developing their leadership skills. The experience inspires students to secure the blessings of liberty daily in their own communities.
“Our children are our future, and the Spirit of America program provides them with a great opportunity to connect on a personal level with our country’s history and founding documents,” said National Sojourners® President MGySgt Denny Norris. “They obtain a better understanding on how their government works, and how to be an active, responsible citizen. Through various activities and conversations with scholars and historical figures – like Thomas Jefferson – we have seen the students engage and absorb information they can bring home and share with their families and communities. We appreciate the hard work of our chapters and members for sponsoring our students and giving them this incredible opportunity.”
“I am happy to return to Freedoms Foundation and participate in this outstanding civic education program for students,” said National Sojourners® Americanism Chair Lt. Col Michael Wertz. “In addition to obtaining a valuable education on our government, students are also connecting directly with history as they visit historic sites in Valley Forge and Philadelphia. I look forward to helping our chapters continue sponsoring and recruiting more young Americans for this valuable experience.”
“For over three decades, we have worked closely with National Sojourners® and welcomed nearly 2,500 of their students to our Spirit of America Youth Leadership program,” said Freedoms Foundation CEO David Harmer. “We share a multitude of values with the National Sojourners®’ including their love of country and desire to provide students with an extraordinary opportunity to learn more about our country’s history and its promising future. We are humbled and grateful for their dedication to America’s youth and our mission at Freedoms Foundation.”
Attending the Spirit of America Youth Leadership program were:
Seraphine Abannoh – Virginia
Benjamin Amster – New Jersey
Roseline Ayozie – California
Leland Boxer – Virginia
Tyler Brunelle – Virginia
Nathanael Callender – North Carolina
Devin Campbell – Pennsylvania
Evelyn Campbell – Colorado
Benjamin Caselle – Virginia
Gabriel Castro – West Virginia
Conor Caulfield – New Jersey
Anthony Cervantes – California
Makango Cisse – Virginia
Magdalene Cook – Pennsylvania
Jaceb Dickerson – Pennsylvania
Andrew Fleming – California
Kristine Francis – North Carolina
Aiden Gutierres – Virginia
Mahina Hagans – Virginia
Lillie Hansen – North Carolina
Alana Hanz – North Carolina
Deidra Harig – Pennsylvania
Aleksander Helpingstine – Georgia
Jeremy Hunsinger – North Carolina
Liam Kirkpatrick – Pennsylvania
Gabriella Knarr – Missouri
Alpha Kourouma – Pennsylvania
Breanne MacNaughton – Pennsylvania
Brian Maynard – Colorado
Franklin McCue – North Carolina
Juan Morado – California
Joy Ngafua – Pennsylvania
Omar Ranger – California
Charles Roberson – North Carolina
Aaliya Rodgers – California
Ezra Ryall – Georgia
Andres Sanches – Virginia
Alyssa Schmidt – North Carolina
Caroline Simmons – Virginia
Hazel Singletary – North Carolina
Ronald Trombly – Virginia
Gauge Wetzel – Pennsylvania
Leilani White – Colorado
In addition to sponsoring and supporting their students, National Sojourners® is also celebrating the upcoming 100th anniversary of Heroes of ‘76 – an affiliate auxiliary organization of National Sojourners. Their membership includes National Sojourners® who have been bestowed with the Heroes ’76 degree for outstanding service.
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