FMS student invited to leadership forum

Trenton Nelson, a student at Fairfield Middle School, will travel to Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia in July to participate in a People to People World Leadership Forum.

Nelson, along with fellow students from around the world, will take part in educational and leadership programs, visiting historical sites and learning from guest speakers.

Roger Crouch, former NASA astronaut and senior scientist will start off the seven-day program with information on the International Space Station. Students will travel to Philadelphia to explore Independence Hall, interact with history at the National Constitution Center and stroll the streets of Benjamin Franklin?s city. Dinner aboard the largest four-mast ship in the world will conclude their trip to Philadelphia.

Fourth of July will be celebrated in the nation?s capital, including a breakfast cruise on the Potomac River and a visit to Mount Vernon. Exploring Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln monuments, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, visiting the Korean War and Vietnam veterans memorials are on the agenda. Students will visit the capital to learn about the branches of government. They?ll learn the importance of free press at the Newseum.

Keynote speaker Cokie Roberts, award-winning senior news analyst, will speak to the group. The delegation will lay a wreath at the World War II Memorial and see a performance of ?The Music Man.? Throughout the program in Washington, D.C., Nelson will learn about leadership and how iconic leaders in history have handled world events. Various hands-on activities, relevant professional speakers, small-group workshops and visits to memorials, museums and monuments will provide Nelson with insights on the importance and need for informed and inspired world leaders.

?I am happy to be invited to participate in a World Leadership Forum because of the variety of places we will visit and the speakers we will hear. I love history so am very excited to visit all these historical places, especially Arlington National Cemetery, where we will see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns,? said Nelson.

Addison Coram, a sixth grader at Evans Middle School, Ottumwa, also is attending. He is the son of Charles and Brenda Coram of Ottumwa and the grandson of Donald and Judy Peiffer of Ottumwa and formerly of Packwood.