WKU News

From the classroom to the competition. The WKU Young Male Leadership Academy started last week with speakers and team-building activities and finished with a trip to the Educators Rising National Conference in Orlando, Florida where students competed in different categories.

“The WKU Young Male Leadership Academy Program (YMLA) is an education recruitment initiative for high school young men of diverse backgrounds,” said Julia Rivas, Recruitment Coordinator for Equity and Diversity in Teaching and YMLA Program Coordinator.  “In this program, students are exposed to topics such as communication, leadership, team-building, and public speaking skills with a great emphasis on teaching as a way to motivate students into the education profession.”

The 23 YMLA students represent 9-12 grade students from Bowling Green Independent School District, Warren County Public Schools, and Simpson County Public Schools. 

On June 25, the students arrived at WKU and began two days of sessions on topics such as service and community, diversity in the school system, the importance of mental health, college writing and resume building, and more. They heard from educators, school administrators, and higher education professionals. To break up the time spent building knowledge, the group went to the WKU Challenge Course for team-building activities. From June 29 - July 2, they engaged in a variety of sessions at the Educators Rising National Conference before competing in different categories. 

During the conference, Rivas won the Educators Rising Champion Award - Teacher Leader Division. Each state nominated one teacher leader, and Rivas was selected among all the nominations.

The following students earned a place in their categories:

Researching Learning Challenges

- 7th Place, Ayden Page & Cameron Bell

Exploring Education Administration Careers, High School Junior Varsity

- 2nd Place, Choncey Richardson

- 4th Place, Davin Huffman

- 8th Place, Colin Anderson

Impromptu Speaking, High School Junior Varsity

- 10th Place, Angel Starks 

In addition to Rivas, the following educators contribute to the student's success with YMLA:

Mr. Michael Coleman, WKU YMLA Program Coordinator, Warren County Schools Teacher Recruitment; Mrs. J'Nora Anderson, WKU YMLA Program Coordinator, Simpson County Schools, Franklin Elementary Principal; Mr. Chris Stunson, YMLA Summer Program - Camp Student Advisor, Warren County Public Schools, Bristow Elementary Principal.

Learn more about YMLA at https://www.wku.edu/redtp/young_male_leadership_academy.php.