Marian Catholic High School rising senior Brooke Hannis-Miskar recently returned from the 2026 National Federation of State High School Associations National Student Leadership Summit, held July 16-19 in Indianapolis.

Hannis-Miskar was one of only 16 student ambassadors selected from across Pennsylvania by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association to attend the national summit, which brought together more than 200 student leaders from across the United States and internationally.

She earned her selection through a competitive application process that included two essays.

The summit focused on leadership, teamwork, communication, inclusion, sportsmanship and positive school culture.

“It was an outstanding experience to be surrounded by so many other students, all leaders who are passionate about making a difference in their schools,” Hannis-Miskar said. “Everyone came from different backgrounds, but we all shared the same goal of serving others through leadership.”

At Marian Catholic, Hannis-Miskar has distinguished herself through leadership, academics, athletics and service.

She serves in leadership roles with the Evangelization Team, Student Council, Catholic Athletes for Christ, CRS/SADD, the Student Ambassador Program, Marian Mentor Program and the Immaculate Heart Service Society. She is also a member of National Honor Society, Academic Team, STEM Club, Diversity Club/Youth Leadership and the Middle States Accreditation Committee.

A four-year varsity basketball player and a team captain, Hannis-Miskar has also competed in varsity track and field while maintaining Distinguished Honors throughout high school. Her honors include College Board National Recognition awards, the Presidential Award for Academic Excellence and the Joseph DeAngelo Underclassman Scholar-Athlete Award. As a sophomore, she was selected as one of Marian Catholic’s Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership ambassadors.

Later this summer, she will represent Marian Catholic at the HOBY World Leadership Congress in Washington, D.C.

She has completed hundreds of hours of community service through mentoring, tutoring, volunteering at nursing homes, assisting with Catholic Charities’ Food Truck, food drives, community events and charitable fundraisers.

Reflecting on the summit, Hannis-Miskar said one of her biggest takeaways was that leadership is about serving others.

“We learned that leadership is influence,” she said. “It’s about setting a good example, listening to others, helping people feel included and encouraging others to become involved.”

She hopes to bring those lessons back to Marian Catholic during her senior year by continuing to mentor younger students and fostering a positive school community.