Hays High School sophomores (left to right) Michael Wensmann, Joshua Fantauzzi and Gibson Hatch enjoyed a unique experience recently with their participation in the National Youth Leadership Forum on National Security in Washington, D.C. The forum’s focus on exploring American diplomacy, intelligence and defense provided the three standout students with simulations of real-life American security concerns and how those concerns are addressed in today’s world. (Photo by Jim Cullen)
by JIM CULLEN
Three Hays High School students recently returned from the nation’s capital with more than the usual sampling of tourist visits under their belts. Hays High’s Michael Wensmann, Joshua Fantauzzi and Gibson Hatch came home from the National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF) with unique perspectives—and experiences—dealing with some of the country’s most serious concerns.
The NYLF is designed to provide insight into United States diplomacy, intelligence, and defense, and the students who are recommended for participation are selected based on their demonstrated ability in the classroom and the likelihood that the very unique experience will open new worlds of possibilities to each. All three are students of Hays High School teacher Tom Ray and all three came home enriched by that experience.
“These guys made sacrifices both financially, academically (the workshop was during a school week), and personally,” Ray said of his threesome, adding his assessment that “they have all gained so much from the activity.”
The forum’s curriculum is based on actual world events and throughout the program, students use critical thinking, leadership and public speaking skills to tackle complex national decision-making. They examine how the U.S. plans for peace and prepares for crisis and employ “a crisis decision-making process similar to that employed by the nation’s top policy makers.”
Participant Michael Wensmann says in the forum simulation dealing with Korean military proliferation, “everyone was given a part as one of the positions in government. Each person received various bits of information regarding something that happened to create conflict in the decision-making.” Wensmann says that participants had to decide if the information was important and, if so, to which governmental branch it should go.
Joshua Fantauzzi calls the simulation the “most interesting aspect” of the forum, terming it “a great experience to see how the government functions.” He described the most important thing he learned from the experience was “confidence and being more open about sharing my thoughts and ideas.”
Gibson Hatch considered the career information the forum offered as the most important thing he took from the week. He notes, “We got to listen to a lot of different people who actually have jobs in those fields and who could tell us what it’s like and what it would take to become part of that life.”
“Altogether, it was a wonderful trip,” Hatch said in assessing the week. Classmate Wensmann concurs, adding that it “got me thinking about my future.”
Gibson Hatch is the son of John and Rebecca Hatch, Joshua Fantauzzi is the son of Josh and Monique Fantauzzi, and Michael Wensmann is the son of Daniel and Marianne Wensmann.
