The Chronicle (WA) - Local Girl at National Leadership Camp

July 28, 2007

Morgan Harris, 12, was one of five students from the Washington Virtual Academies selected to take part in the Making Waves Leadership Camp, held from July 25-27 at Villanova University in Philadelphia.

The Centralia seventh-grader submitted essays about her civic involvement and experiences learning in a public virtual school to earn a trip to the conference. The winners were selected by workshop sponsor K12 Inc. as outstanding representatives of their school and local community.

The virtual academies are the newest virtual public school option in the state and provide a tuition-free, state-approved curriculum for grades K-8 through a program of the Steilacoom Historical District.

A total of 60 students from across the country, all of whom are using the K12 learning program in public virtual schools, are participating in the leadership workshop, which encourages young students from grades 7-10 to make “big waves” in their community. To apply, students submitted essays about their civic involvement and experiences learning in a public virtual school.

At the conference students participate in workshops focused on increasing communication skills, time management, positive risk-taking, goal achieving and presentation speaking, all of which are combined for a final capstone community service project on the final day.