Doane Stuart students create unique meeting

On Nov. 15-17, Doane Stuart will be the site of the Regional Network of Sacred Heart Schools Student Leadership Conference. The conference, for high school students from the northeastern U.S., is the first of its kind in the U.S.

Patrick Marinello and Zachary Shub-Essig decided to host the meeting after attending a national conference in Houston in 2000 that marked the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Order of the Sacred Heart. That order established Kenwood Academy, which later merged with an Episcopal school to become Doane Stuart.

Idea on way home

"We both were very excited and glad to have had the opportunity to attend the national conference," said Patrick, 15, a sophomore. But the two young men wanted to have a conference in Albany because they believe that the schools in the northeast are closer together than those in other regions of the country. They decided that their peers could make more of an impact on their schools and communities by gathering in a smaller group.

Zachary, who is 17 and a junior, added that when they got back home, they began to formulate their idea and write a proposal for a regional conference.

"We wanted to more completely involve students in the planning and implementation process," Zachary said. "We want students to be able to implement their ideas, compare them with the ideas of others and then live them out. Hopefully, this will improve leadership skills as well as service to the community."

National effort

The students work to achieve five goals that the schools of the Sacred Heart commit themselves to:

* A personal and active faith in God;

* A deep respect for intellectual values;

* A social awareness which impels to action;

* The building of community as a Christian value; and

* Personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom.

Proposal

"That planning process taught me how to actually write a proposal and a budget, and I believe that will leave a lasting impact on me," said Patrick.

He also believes that it has left him better prepared to plan other events and taught him leadership skills that he otherwise would not have had.

"The entire formulation process gave me an opportunity to take responsibility for my position, defend it and see it through its completion," he said.

Details

The conference will include presentations given by Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings and Congressman John Sweeney on regional leadership, and suggestions for ways students can make a regional impact on their local communities.

Every stage of the planning process was overseen by the dean of students, but Zachary noted that he and Patrick feel that the administration "has given us a lot of space and freedom to design the conference."

He said that the "real-world experience" they had helped him develop proposal-writing skills and will continue to be helpful to him in the future by giving him the confidence to "make the most of my surroundings and environment, particularly in the business world someday."

(For additional information on the conference, contact J. Eric Smith at 465-5222, ext. 230.)

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