The 2024 Loudoun International Summit was a transformative experience for Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) students and connected them with their peers across the globe. Formerly known as the Loudoun International Youth Leadership Summit, founded in 2012, the in-person program included six LCPS high schools - Dominion, Lightridge, Loudoun Valley, Park View, Rock Ridge and Woodgrove. More than 70 students from 16 international schools across 12 countries engaged in the immersive opportunity for emerging young adult leaders. Organized and facilitated by the Global Ambassadors Clubs from the participating LCPS High Schools, the week-long exchange fostered global citizenship through student-led cross-cultural learning experiences throughout the Summit in and around Loudoun County.
Highlights included
An inspiring opening ceremony hosted by Lightridge High School. Keynote speaker Carl Wilkens shared invaluable lessons from his experiences in Rwanda during the late 1990s;
A documentary screening, hosted by Woodgrove High School, about education during wartime in Ukraine, followed by a meet-and-greet with the Ukrainian filmmakers, including former Ukrainian Secretary of Education Anna Novosad;
A captivating exploration of local history, led by Dominion High School students and supported by Pastor Michelle Thomas of the Loudoun Freedom Center and Stephanie Thompson of the Waterford Foundation;
An energized Park View High School pep rally featuring a parade of nations representing diverse nationalities within the student body and visiting international delegates; and,
A culminating gathering at Woodgrove High School, during which a Global Share Fair spotlighted delegates and local students' innovative projects that addressed various United Nations Sustainable Development Goals from their respective communities and countries.
The 2024 Loudoun International Summit, under the leadership of teacher sponsors Jen Rodgers, Rhapsody Barbrow, Kent Bailey, Tom Wellington, Tim Greening and Matt Talboo, with support from the Office of Social Science and Global Studies, was a unique opportunity to glimpse the world of diplomacy and international relations. The Summit created a space for dialogue to address specific issues and identify where needs or challenges may overlap, time to generate possible solutions, and valuable connections for students' future endeavors.
Published May 30, 2024