Morgan Veglia, daughter of Brian and Judy Veglia and a seventh grade student at Tamaqua Middle School, attended the National Young Leaders State Conference (NYLSC) held in Pittsburgh from March 4 through March 6.

She was nominated by her math teacher, Michael Murphy.Throughout the conference, Morgan developed skills and different leadership traits, such as: communication, conflict resolution, decision making, goal setting, group dynamics, leadership techniques, project planning, self awareness and appreciating diversity. She also enjoyed the chance to meet and work with students from all over the state of Pennsylvania. Finally, Morgan was able to showcase her piano playing talent for her peers at the Saturday night variety show.The NYLSC offers outstanding students from across the nation the opportunity to take part in a unique leadership development program held in 35 cities across the country.Themed "Courageous Leadership," the NYLSC helps young scholars take an introspective and highly personalized assessment of their leadership skills and abilities.Throughout the four-day program, scholars build a working "tool kit" of strategies to help them successfully dream, create, and implement plans that will change how they view their role as leaders in their communities."The steps each person takes in discovering his or her own leadership strengths can be a very personal process," said Marguerite Regan, dean of Academic Affairs for the Congressional Youth Leadership Council (CYLC), the organization that sponsors NYLSC. "The National Young Leaders State Conference will help students get at the heart of their innate talents and skills and will also help them identify how best they can serve within their communities."The NYLSC curriculum focuses on an introspective and highly personalized assessment of each student's leadership skills and abilities. The scholars will be challenged to step forward in a manner that is decisive and confident, to grasp the concepts of leadership that will be taught and to act upon their dreams of making a difference in the world while maintaining the courage of their convictions.