The Iowa Student Leadership Conference brought student councils from across the state to give them a platform to share ideas, develop leadership skills, and inform them on how to make a positive impact.

Among these student councils, Pleasant Valley’s Spartan Assembly was in attendance. They first participated in a student council exchange where they shared ideas from Pleasant Valley with other students.

Spartan Assembly members then listened to student-led Ted Talks. In particular,  the one led by Webster City High School about the Dance Marathon they hold every year to support the Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital drew the students’ attention. The first day of the conference ended with a magic act performed by magician Keith West and the “Illusioneers.”

The next day, they returned to the Iowa Events Center to continue the festivities. They listened to the current State Officers award student councils for their various achievements. Spartan Assembly received the title of Honor Council after submitting a storyboard and a portfolio of their work.

They then listened to keynote speaker Eddie Slowikowski who inspired the young student leaders to become the best versions of themselves in order to reach their full potential in all they do.

In addition, Spartan Assembly member Ramya Subramanian was announced as the First Vice President Elect. Since attending the Iowa Leadership Training Camp, Subramanian has been preparing to apply for a State Officer position with the IASC Advisory Board. She made history when she was the first person from Pleasant Valley to apply and be selected for this honor. Starting the middle of her junior year, she will be serving as the First Vice President.

Subramanian comments on what she looks forward to doing as First Vice President-Elect. “ I am looking forward to going to and planning conferences and work with all the amazing people I met at ILTC. Hopefully, other people from PV will want to do this in the future too.” After hearing this news, Subramanian and her fellow Spartan Assembly members proceeded to attend breakout sessions.

Each student had the opportunity to choose three sessions to attend from an extensive list. The list comprised of many sessions that would benefit any student council or individual student: “Behind the Scenes of Homecoming,” “How to Hunger Drive,” “Procrastination,” and more.

The homecoming session served to guide student councils that needed help with getting more people involved, the hunger drive session offered advice to schools about how to plan a successful hunger drive, and the one about procrastination served to help students break their procrastination habits.

Spartan Assembly member, Muskan Basnet discusses her favorite breakout session and why she loved attending this conference. “I really liked the dance marathon session because they had a lot of great ideas. I am very excited to come back next year. I am always excited to attend this conference.” For these reasons and more, she and the rest of the Spartan Assembly are excited to attend this conference next year and the years to come.