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MSSD Hosts the 2003 Junior NAD National Conference

Fifty-four students and twenty-four advisors from eighteen schools across the country attended the biennial Junior NAD National Conference at Gallaudet University’s Kellogg Conference Center from November 4-9. It was hosted for the first time by the Junior NAD MSSD chapter. The theme of the conference was “Knowledge is Power, Know Yourself First.”

The conference, which convenes junior high school students from across the United States, aims to provide training opportunities for future leaders in the deaf community. It consists of two regional conferences, the Eastern/Central and the Western Deaf Youth Conferences, and a national conference—the Junior NAD National Convention. Prospective host chapters bid to sponsor the conference.

This year’s conference offered workshops on management, multi-tasking, the parliamentary procedure, positive thinking, deaf empowerment, leadership and advocacy, and other pertinent topics on leadership skills development.

Aside from the workshops, conference attendees also participated in Personal Discovery activities, published a daily conference newsletter, toured the campus and the city, and visited the NAD headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. They also watched the Mr. and Miss Junior NAD Pageant.

When asked how they felt about the conference, students responded:

“It was great and inspiring. I’m more motivated to become a better leader.” Josiah Kelly, Rochester School for the Deaf.

“It’s cool! I learned a lot. I learned how to break my shyness and be more aggressive.” Amy Weaver, Florida School for the Deaf.

“I learned a lot about who I am and what I want to be in the future.” Morgan Breese, Illinois School for the Deaf.

Justen Burns, MSSD student development coordinator and Junior NAD adviser for the MSSD Chapter, was event coordinator assisted by staff members Roberta Gage, Jennie Vaccaro, Astrid Jones, Melissa Lawton, Kurt Kornkven, and Gallaudet students, Heather Pachuilo and Geoffrey Mompremier.

Conference participants, advisors, guests, and organizers at Gallaudet’s Chapel Hall.