NFHS National Student Leadership Summit Set This Week in Indianapolis

This week, 220 student ambassadors from 30 states, Canada and Honduras, along with 88 adult advisors, will gather in Indianapolis for the 10^th in-person National Student Leadership Summit (NSLS). The event marks the 17th national conference for high school students sponsored by the NFHS since the inaugural conference in 2001.

The NSLS will be held Thursday through Sunday at the Marriott Downtown Hotel in Indianapolis. This year’s summit includes student ambassadors from three new states: California, Oklahoma and West Virginia.

The summit focuses on contemporary and relevant issues, allowing students to hone their leadership skills and understand the privilege and responsibility of their influence in schools, communities and state associations. Each day features keynote speakers, workshops and networking opportunities.

Using a “lead the leader” concept, student and adult ambassadors develop the skills to mentor peers and serve their state associations more effectively. Topics covered include developing and maintaining healthy relationships with teammates, coaches, officials and other leaders.

The Opening General Session speaker is Molly Kennedy, a keynote speaker, author and former educator who specializes in resilience, authentic leadership, and building stronger human connections. The four breakout session speakers are Khatdija Meghjani, Leslie Barnes, Dr. Cricket Lane, Omari Pearson and Deb Hult. The Closing General Session speaker will be Westley Morris.

Meghjani will give the presentation “Heart and Mind Protection,” and Pearson will present “Post High School Career Exploitation. Leslie Barnes and Dr. Cricket Lane will lead “Dealing with Stress/Composure,” and Deb Hult will discuss “Civility Development.”

On Friday evening, students will travel to Plainfield High School for a Unified Sports Experience with Indiana Special Olympics athletes. They’ll participate in joint competitions and share athletic experiences through interactive activities.

Morris, a motivational speaker, life coach and U.S. Navy veteran, whose presentations focus on resilience, recovery, leadership and personal transformation, will wrap up the conference with remarks during the Closing General Session on Sunday.

Planning for the NSLS began last September, when NFHS member state associations were invited to participate. Student and adult ambassadors were selected by participating state associations earlier this year.

The NFHS started the NSLS in 2015 after previously hosting the National Student Leadership Conference seven times (2001-03, 2007-10), although the 2020 and 2021 NSLS events were conducted virtually. As the national leadership organization for high school sports and performing arts, member associations felt the NFHS should continue its role in developing and nurturing the leadership skills of high school students.

Fifteen high school students attending the event will also serve on the third cohort of the NFHS National Student Advisory Council (NSAC). Students on NSAC are involved in sports or performing arts in their schools and will be attending several meetings throughout the 2026 calendar year to provide NFHS student perspectives on high school athletics and activities.

Following are the students selected for the 2026 NFHS National Student Advisory Council:

SECTION 1: Hayle Gomez Funez, Enfield (Connecticut) High School, class of 2027; Sam Dowd, Burr and Burton Academy, Manchester, Vermont, class of 2028.

SECTION 2: Erika Isphording, Athens High School, The Plains, Ohio, class of 2028.

SECTION 3: Cole Shuster, Lincoln Park Academy, Fort Pierce, Florida, class of 2027; Sydney Daniel, Lincoln Park Academy, Fort Pierce, Florida, class of 2027.

SECTION 4: Owen Anderson, Arcadia (Wisconsin) High School, class of 2027; Miriam Johnson, Francis W. Parker High School, Chicago, Illinois, class of 2028.

SECTION 5: Jude Tierney, Roosevelt High School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, class of 2027; Evelyn Meyer, Filmore Central High School, Geneva, Nebraska, class of 2028.

SECTION 6: Anna Sayman, McKinney (Texas) North High School, class of 2027; Luke Boatman, Menaul School, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Class of 2028.

SECTION 7: Lucca Rubin, Brawley (California) High School, class of 2027; Trey Lundeen, Dayton (Nevada) High School, class of 2028.

SECTION 8: Coren Richardson, Wasilla (Alaska) High School, class of 2027; Kannon Walter, Ida B. Wells High School, Portland, Oregon, class of 2028.

Among the roles and responsibilities of the NSAC, the 15 students will:

• Determine and develop actions the Council will take to gather insight on the experiences of students in high schools from the states within each section;

• Identify and communicate areas of support that may be needed from the NFHS and state associations;

• Identify and communicate ideas for increasing student involvement in cocurricular activities, where needed.

For more information on the NSLS, visit the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “About,” then click on “National Student Leadership Summit” under the Conferences and Events heading.