Jones attends leadership conference!

Christian A. Jones, a freshman student at Watervliet Junior-Senior High School, attended the 2008 National Junior Leaders Conference, CSI: Forensic Science, sponsored by LeadAmerica this summer. The NJLC is a leadership program for young leaders from across the United States and internationally. The NJLC CSI: Forensic Science is a 10-day leadership program in which students learn how evidence is collected and processed. In a hands-on learning environment, Christian and fellow students conducted a full analysis of a crime scene, including 3-D computer-generated facial reconstruction, ballistics, fiber and blood spatter analysis, fingerprinting, DNA analysis, medical forensics, document analysis and more.

The NJLC CSI conference that Christian attended was held at Fordham University in the Bronx, NY. Christian met forensic experts, crime scene specialists, government agents and other professionals, engaged in laboratory exercises and participated in interactive leadership workshops.

Christian stated that he enjoyed the conference; in particular, the hands-on learning in the laboratories and the many analyses performed. He met many new friends and feels he gained skills he will use in his future learning and employment.

Christian is the son of John and Danielle Jones of Watervliet. He has 11-year-old quadruplet siblings; a brother, Nick, and three sisters, Becky, Ali and Beth. This is Christian’s second student leadership conference. Earlier this year, Christian also attended the NYSLC weeklong leadership conference in White Plains.

“Leadership can make important differences in the lives of teenagers - in their academic and personal
performance, in their acceptance to the college of their choice, and in their level of focus, passion and
purpose,” says Chris M. Salamone, Esq., Founder and Executive Director of LeadAmerica.

LeadAmerica is the nation's premier youth leadership organization. With a commitment to providing
quality leadership education, LeadAmerica empowers teenage leaders and instills in them ethical and
principled leadership values, attitudes and skills. Each of its high school conferences is college accredited and its programs are approved activities of the National Association of Secondary School
Principals. LeadAmerica sponsors the Congressional Student Leadership Conference for high school
students, the National Junior Leaders Conference for middle and junior high school students,
Ambassadors Abroad international study programs in China, Australia and Europe, and Washington
Summer Scholars, a college-level academic program held in partnership with American University.

Further information on LeadAmerica and the NJLC can be found at www.lead-america.org.