| UPDATE: Jarrod Griffin, one of 50 participants, placed fourth in the Four Star Leadership programs Student Congress Competition for his public speaking, critical thinking, and research abilities. He was awarded a $500 scholarship in the Student Congress Competition, a debate format which mimics the style of the U.S. Congress.
Jarrod Griffin, 17, of Nixa, pictured, is among 50 students nationwide who have been selected to participate in the Four Star Leadership program, offering leadership training, policy debate, speech competition and scholarships, and the opportunity to engage with national and global leaders. The event will take place on July 12-19, 2014, in Oklahoma City.
Griffin, who will be a senior this fall at Nixa High School, was chosen for his demonstrated leadership abilities and outstanding character. He is a member of the schools speech and debate team, Future Business Leaders of America, his church youth group and several other organizations.
Former Commander-in-Chief of American and coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, General Tommy Franks will host the all expenses paid camp. Guest speakers at the conference will include Oklahoma Lt. Governor Todd Lamb, Oklahoma Attorney General E. Scott Pruitt and multiple Olympic Gold medalist Michele Smith. Karl Rove, senior adviser to President George W. Bush also is expected to appear at the Four-Star Leadership awards banquet on July 19 at the Oklahoma Christian Gaylord University Center.
This years Four Star Leadership Congressional Debate competition offers students expert policy briefings so they may address those issues in persuasive speech and editorial contests, while collaborating in a model Student Congress. Topics to be debated are the Affordable Care Act, Global Warming versus economic growth and the minimum wage. Griffin comes to the debate having shared first place in the Christian County Optimist Club's oratorical contest held last fall.
Four Star Leadership is a competitive camp with $20,000 in scholarships being awarded to the top winners of the Four Star Leadership Award, Opinion Editorial Competition, Persuasive Speech Competition and Student Congress. The first place scholarship also will result in a $1000 scholarship to the winning students school. Four participants who successfully complete the program will have an opportunity to receive a full-tuition scholarship to the University of Texas in Arlington.
Since 2008, Four Star has welcomed more than 250 high school students from all over the U.S., and 30 international students. Kings, governors, senators, Olympic Gold medalists and top national policy experts have mentored students in developing and demonstrating the core leadership principles of the program: character, common vision, communication, and caring.
Co-hosts for the conference are the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA), Oklahoma Christian University, and the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs. Round trip travel for Griffin and all participants in the program will be provided by PepsiCo, Inc. Go Back |
