Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: Youth as Leaders Club Kicks Off a New Year 

The Youth as Leaders Club (YAL) at MCS has named a new group of students selected for the program. They are Brooke Devlin, Evelyn Kelley, J.J. Narz, Maria Patino and Delilah Shultes.

YAL focuses on leadership activities, using the Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens, written by Sean Covey, as inspiration. Each month, club members participate in team-building activities focusing on one of the habits. In the program’s first year, sophomores are immersed in leadership activities. 

Grade 11 YAL members on steps.
Class of 2025 YAL members. (Eric Pickering absent)

Continuing in YAL are Class of 2025 members: Gabby Armlin, Brianna Devlin, Penelope Dunn, Kaelyn Jensen, Emma Lacko, Morgan Masterson and Eric Pickering. As juniors, they will be branching out into community service this year. 

When students are seniors, they pass down what they’ve learned to the club newcomers. Class of 2024 students returning as mentors include Ben Croote, Tadgh Martin, Sarah Schafroth, Olivia Skowfoe and Quin Smith.

Through the three-year program, students learn to navigate real problems, build relationships with other students in the county and plan community service projects. Along with other students from other Schoharie County schools, MHS students meet at the Schoharie County Youth Bureau once a month during the 2023-24 school year. Together, they learn to:

  • Be proactive
  • Begin with the end in mind
  • Put first things first
  • Think win-win
  • Seek first to understand, then to be understood
  • Synergize
  • Sharpen the saw 

Club advisor Paul Pierce says he has seen the program’s benefits firsthand.

“Each year, the students gain confidence and knowledge,” says Pierce. “The YAL program provides inspiration and impact, both for the students and the community.”