Hays Sister Cities board members were pleased to award Hays High School senior Caleb King a $2,500 scholarship to attend the Youth Leadership Summit in Washington D.C. hosted by Sister Cities International August 4 - 10.
The Youth Leadership Summit engages future leaders and exposes them to global challenges in hopes to inspire a new generation of citizen diplomats and volunteers to promote peace, mutual respect, and prosperity.
King was nominated to Hays Sister Cities by Jerry Braun, Gifted Education teacher at Hays High. King was one of only 49 applicants chosen by Sister Cities International to attend YLS.
“Our board is excited to use our resources to give a local student an experience that opens their minds to the possibilities of a future in International Relations,” said Sister Cities board chair Olga Detrixhe.
The theme for the 2024 event was “Diplomacy Beyond Borders: Inspire, Connect, Transform.” YLS attendees were housed on the campus of American University and given a schedule that included training seminars and professional development. On the last day of the Summit, students participated in a Diplomacy Simulation led by the U.S. Department of State.
“Getting to attend the Youth Leadership Summit in Washington D.C. was one of the best experiences of my life and one that will stick with me forever,” said King.
“Through this event, I learned more about myself and the world around me in a week than I had in years. This week will ultimately change the trajectory of my life and lead me to spend my time helping others. I am so grateful to Hays Sister Cities for enabling me to attend the summit and experience everything that came with it.”
To wrap up his leadership experience, King will present on the D.C. summit to local civic clubs this fall.
Sister Cities International was started by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 to encourage citizen diplomacy and move toward world peace. For information on Sister Cities International, visit www.sistercities.org. For more information about Hays Sister Cities, visit www.facebook.com/HaysSisterCities or email [email protected].