Ferndale Public Schools -

Adeline Perhogan and Camrynn Nystrom, co-advisors of the United Student Assembly (Student Council) at Ferndale High School, attended the National Conference on Student Activities (NCSA) from December 5-7 in Grand Rapids. Under the theme Great Lakes Leadership, the NCSA brings together the Advocates, Advisors, Administrators, and Allies of Student Activities for a weekend of learning, networking, and fun! Sponsored by the National Association for Student Activities (NA4SA), the conference provides professional development for high school and middle school advisors of co-curricular activities through a mixture of keynote speakers, breakout workshops, and information sharing.

Youth speaker Dr. Lamarr Womble, author Molly Kennedy, and AI specialist Matt Mervis anchored the general sessions with keynotes as motivation for advisors to deepen their work with students and other advisors. Attendees went to three or four 45-minute workshops focused on themes to

• HEIGHTEN student activity programs

• OPTIMIZE projects and processes

• MARKET activity programs

• EMPOWER students and advisors

• SUPPORT students, program, and advisors

They also rotated through four or eight 15-minute Table Talk presentations for introductions to a wide variety of topics related to co-curricular activities and had the opportunity for informal networking with other professionals from around the country.

Nystrom found the sessions School Culture Revival and Activities for Everyone particularly useful because they focused on boosting school spirit, promoting inclusion, and ensuring all students feel welcomed. She hopes to use what she learned at this conference to further train student leaders and develop an improved school culture.

During the course of the conference, NA4SA recognizes select members for honors and awards. Perhogan received the Barrie E. Finnemeyer Newcomer Scholarship, given to first-time or second-time attendees of the National Conference on Student Activities.