Student council members come to Bedford County for training sessions

Ashleigh Sims finishes an exercise in the time management session while leaders in the background -- from left, Abby Burton, Alexi Gordon and Amber Wiser -- tell her time's up. A Student Council leadership conference for Middle Tennessee students was held Friday at Harris Middle School. (T-G Photo by Sadie Fowler) [Order this photo]

Ashleigh Sims and her partner Justin Strickler put their markers down, the last ones in the group to do so, using every minute of time allotted to complete their exercise.

What exercise?

Middle school student council members from across the midstate attended the conference. Community High School will host a leadership conference for around 700 high school students Monday. (T-G Photo by Sadie Fowler) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"The pairs had to draw a random picture that came to their mind and then write a story, one that's somewhat coherent, to go with the picture," Gordon said.

Gordon came up with this exercise for the time management session, which she taught Friday at Harris Middle School.

The school hosted this year's Tennessee Association of Student Councils (TASC) Leadership Workshops for midstate middle level students. Gordon, a student at Harris and also Middle Tennessee's TASC student representative (middle level), led the day's activities for the second year in a row.

About 450 students joined Gordon for the day, which included leadership sessions on various topics ranging from time management, campaigning for office and teamwork to fundraisers, service projects, school spirit, community outreach and communications.

The day includes motivational guest speakers and a pep rally of sorts.

Harris was chosen as host school for the second straight year due to Gordon's position.

The strong presence of student councils in Bedford County can also be seen in high school students. Joshua Houston of Community High is the TASC representative for high school students in Middle Tennessee and his school will host their conference Monday.

School is off Monday, making room for more than 700 students -- more than the number who attend Community daily -- to spread out and hone in on their leadership skills.

Several Shelbyville Central High student council members, including senior Samantha Szelich, assisted Gordon and others who taught the 30 leadership sessions.

Samantha Szelich, left, a Shelbyville Central High School senior and student council member, assisted with the day's events. With her is Kayla Throneberry, a seventh grade student council member at Harris. (T-G Photo by Sadie Fowler) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"The conference is all about everyone sharing ideas with each other," said Szelich, who taught the session on fundraisers.

Szelich, the director of fundraising for Central's National Honor Society, says having been a student council member for several years has benefited her greatly.

"Student Council has made me more outgoing," she said. "I've learned a lot about leadership."

Eighth grade Harris council member Janita Hendricks is also enjoying her experience with the organization and its leadership opportunities.

"We've been working on planning for this (the conference) for a month," she said. "This session is about how to raise money for your school so they can give you more ... I love Student Council. You get to be involved and know what's going on in your schools."

She said having such involvement makes a big impact and provides a good sense of satisfaction.