NCR Hosts Peer Leader Conferences with Help of Community Partners
On October 26th and 28th College Summit-NCR hosted two Peer Leader Conferences with the assistance of community partners, including Largo High School, Deloitte’s Black Employee Network, Target, Howard University School of Business, Wide Angle Youth Media, Next Generation Foundation, and Mrs. Maryland International 2009.

“Leave your mark by encouraging other students to prepare for college.”  These were the words of Dr. William Hite, Superintendent of Prince George’s County Public Schools, as he addressed a group of nearly 200 Peer Leaders at a College Summit-National Capital Region Peer Leader Conference at Trinity University on October 28^th.  The conference was the second of two held that week by College Summit-NCR for its 400 Peer Leaders from 26 schools in DC, Prince George’s County, Baltimore, Alexandria and Arlington. The first conference was held on October 26^th at Morgan State University in Baltimore.

The goal of the conferences was to jumpstart college-going culture at each school by training Peer Leaders on leadership, fundraising, networking, community mobilization, media and marketing. Peer Leaders attended small-group sessions facilitated by College Summit staff, Peer Leaders from Largo High School and College Summit-NCR community partners, including: Deloitte’s Black Employee Network, Target, Howard University School of Business, Wide Angle Youth Media, Next Generation Foundation, and Mrs. Maryland International 2009.

Describing the Deloitte session on leadership styles, Timothy Spicer, an impressive Peer Leader from Wakefield High School in Arlington, who recently introduced President Obama during his historic education speech said, “[The session] bettered my awareness of networking and preparing myself for college.” 

David Eagle, Coordinating Supervisor for the Prince George’s County High School Consortium, stated after observing the Largo High School Peer Leader session, “I was very impressed to see the level of poise and confidence of the Largo Peer Leaders as they presented to their peers about leadership. The opportunity to speak publicly and to use the listening and communication skills they have learned is invaluable. Students need much more experience to practice these skills. This was a very motivating workshop for both the participants and the presenters!”

Dr. Hite ended his speech with these encouraging words, “When students have access and opportunities, and there are high expectations, they never let us down…I want to thank you [Peer Leaders] for the work that you do, and the work you are going to do this year.”

See more of Dr. Hite’s speech

See video and photos from the Peer Leader Conferences

Dr. Hite and David Eagle speak with Peer Leaders