Pictured in front, from left, are Clair Baker, Ivy Tech Community College; Aubrey Kuhn and Reagan Atwood, Wawasee; Madison O’Connell and McKenzie Murphy, Tippecanoe Valley; and, Jasmin Juarez, Warsaw.  In back are Jacob McDonald, Tippecanoe Valley; Drew Stichter, Triton; Sam Yeager, Warsaw; and, Kearstin Criswell, Grace College and Seminary.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — This month’s KYLA educational session featured Kearstin Criswell, Director of Student Involvement, who provided attendees with an entertaining, interactive discussion on life leadership skills and how to recognize, apply, and expand them through continued education.

Focused discussions included engaging others with respect and compassion, leadership through encouragement, and using self-awareness skills to co-educate.  Kearstin explained how “growing continuously through expanding our skill sets” can be achieved by trying something new in order to learn; this was demonstrated by two Grace College students who shared their extra-curricular college experiences.

Clair Baker, 21^st Century Scholar Coordinator at Ivy Tech, also spoke to attendees about educational opportunities and provided KYLA students with a career pathway quiz.  The students used their results to fuel group discussions about skill sets that may apply throughout various career paths.