At Mt. Vernon High School, Student Government isn’t just about planning events—it’s about preparing students to lead. These young leaders take on real responsibilities that impact the entire school, from organizing Homecoming Week to serving as the voice of their peers. But as the students themselves shared in their application, one key challenge continues to surface: communication.
Despite impressive growth over the past two years—including major fundraising successes and increased participation—students recognized that they still struggled to connect as a cohesive team. They needed more than structure and strategy; they needed time to build trust, learn how to collaborate, and grow together as leaders.
That’s why the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation is proud to award $3,000 in support of their leadership development retreat at Bradford Woods, a nationally respected outdoor learning center with over 30 years of experience in youth leadership and experiential education. Through team-based challenges, outdoor group learning, and personal reflection, students will engage in powerful real-world experiences that build not only communication and collaboration skills—but confidence and character.
By funding this retreat, we’re investing in the personal growth of our student leaders. We believe when students are given the right tools, environment, and support, they rise to the challenge—and bring those skills back to strengthen the entire school community.
This opportunity aligns directly with the Foundation’s strategic priorities, including:
- Experiential Learning beyond the classroom;
- Real-World Learning that mirrors challenges students will face in life and careers;
- Project-Based Growth that teaches leadership through doing;
- And Career Readiness, as identified in Indiana’s Graduation Pathways.
This isn’t just a trip to the woods. It’s a transformative step toward building the kind of leaders our schools—and our world—need.