This year, Leadership Academy has undergone a significant change. The new alteration of advisory has brought mixed responses from students. Among these responses, both good and bad, is also curiosity. With the popularity of Leadership growing, many students are wondering what Leadership is and how they can be involved in it.

Former Athletic Director Keith Kenyon started the Leadership Academy about 10 years ago as a training for captains of athletic teams. Since then, the Leadership Academy has evolved into a club where students in grades 10-12 facilitate freshman orientation, assist at open house, PHSPN, 8th grade parent/student night, and shadowing days.

This year, the 26 sophomores, 25 juniors and 12 seniors in Leadership had to change their advisories to a new Leadership Academy one. This new advisory helps students in Leadership mentor the freshmen. This change brought mixed feelings from those in Leadership. Junior Jen Roth dropped out of Leadership, saying, “ I don’t like change, and was comfortable with my original advisory and didn’t want to leave the friendships I made.”

Other students like the new change in advisory. Junior Katie Spitalnic said, “I like the change they made to advisory because I like interacting with the freshmen and meeting new people.” With this new advisory, members of Leadership are united to help mentor freshmen. The change gave Leadership an advantage.

Students can apply to be in Leadership Academy every year around March/April. Applications are available at the front office, and are open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Along with the application, a letter of recommendation and presentation on an assigned topic with an audience is required.

The advisor of Leadership, Ms. Julie Maguire, said, “Our goal is to assist in creating a positive, safe environment where all students can learn.”