NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
United Way Fox Cities
February 5, 2012
Contact: Sarah Christensen 954-7210 or
920-850-8072 day of the event
United Way Fox Cities
Teen Symposium to be held February 9, 2012
Teen Symposium 2012 brings together empowered ninth graders and committed adults
in an effort to build better schools and communities through leadership development.
The theme is “Inspire to Make a Difference” and will be held on February 9th from 9:00
a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel. Outcomes include the development
of leadership skills and an individual action plan that can impact schools, agencies, and
the community at large. An emphasis will also be placed on developing 21st Century
Skills including problem solving, critical thinking, and civic engagement.
Over 280 ninth graders from area schools will participate in activities and hear speakers
that will help build, develop, and reinforce leadership skills. In addition, over 30
upperclassmen from area high schools will serve as small group facilitators. Some of
these students, members of the United Way Fox Cities Youth Board, also served on the
planning committee. The morning will consist of small group activities led by Mike
Mauthe to better understand themselves as leaders and to create stimulating
conversations. Carl Olson will be the keynote speaker in the afternoon for the fifth
consecutive year because the students value his combination of magic tricks and
motivational stories to be the best that you can be.
During lunch, students will attend a Volunteer Fair that will provide them with the
opportunity to view various activities and organizations in the Fox Valley that need
volunteers. Non-profit agencies will have staff on site to discuss ways that youth could
become involved in service.
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Participating schools include Appleton East, Appleton North, Appleton West, Fox Valley
Lutheran, Freedom, Hortonville, Kaukauna, Kimberly, Little Chute, Neenah, New
London, Oshkosh Lourdes, Seymour, Shiocton, St. Mary Central, Winneconne, and
Xavier.
Teen Symposium is sponsored by United Way Fox Cities and YMCA of the Fox Cities.
Additional help has come from the Volunteer Center of East Central Wisconsin, Youth
Go, and the Teen Symposium Planning Committee.
end