Severn School Students to Attend Diversity Leadership Conference

Six students will join other student leaders from across the country this week at a three-day Student Diversity Leadership Conference in Philadelphia, hosted by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), according to a press release.

Participants, all from the upper school, will examine issues of social justice, develop effective cross-cultural communication skills, practice expression through the arts and learn networking principles and strategies at this multiracial, multicultural gathering.

Now in its 18th year, the conference encourages students to apply the leadership principles they develop within their own communities after the conference.

Seniors Allie Foard (Severna Park) and Kaya Gordon (Odenton), junior Carolyn Exarhakis (Annapolis), and sophomores Cortney Mathis (Bowie), Mikayla Walker (Glen Burnie) and Gabby Winsky (Davidsonville) are attending.  

“I am hoping to major in psychology when I go to college and I'm very hopeful that the conference will help me better understand humans and their behaviors,” Carolyn Exarhakis said.  

Mikayla Walker said she had volunteered to go to the conference. “I heard it was such a life changing experience that would open my eyes to so many things and make me feel more comfortable about who I am and more proud of where I came from.”