“Indiana's greatest resource is its youth. Student volunteers are a new generation of promise with the potential to make a tangible difference across Indiana and the nation.”

- Senator Evan Bayh

To recognize the efforts of Indiana's extraordinary student volunteers, Senator Bayh, along with Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, each year hosts a Service Leader Summit coinciding with National Make a Difference Day.

Many students donate their time and energy to improve the lives of others in their communities. The Student Leader Summit brings these youth from around the state together to thank them for their work and help increase volunteerism in Indiana. Their actions have a tremendous impact on the future path of their communities and the lives of their fellow Hoosiers.

The Service Leader Summit consists of a morning presentation, a brief formal program, a leadership lunch, an afternoon service project and a time of reflection. The day's events not only reinforce the value of service, but also inspire those who attend and others in our communities to make a commitment to volunteerism throughout their lives.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Where and when is the Service Leader Summit?

A: The Service Leader Summit is held annually in Indianapolis on National Make a Difference Day, the fourth Saturday of October.

Q: What is the cost of attendance to the Service Leader Summit?

A: The Service Leader Summit is free to students. Students will only be responsible for travel to the event. Students will be provided with meals and snacks.

Q: What are the requirements to be a Service Leader?

A: Students must show a dedication to community service and leadership in their service record and their essay.

High school juniors or seniors throughout Indiana can apply, though some sophomores are accepted.

Q: I'm an educator. Can I recommend students as Service Leaders?

A: Applications must be completed by the students themselves, but representatives of community organizations, teachers, guidance counselors and other educators are welcome to nominate students. The Service Leader Summit is a great opportunity for students to both grow in their service and be recognized for their accomplishments.

Congratulations to the 2008 Service Leaders:

21st Century Charter School
Keenan Hightower, Melissa Richard

Angola High School
Kristy Baldwin, Mackenzie V. Bird, Courtney Henze, Sarah Ruff

Batesville High School
Christine McKnight, Jessica O. Schumacher

Benton Central Jr.-Sr. High School
Alyssa Lyzette Martinez, Dan Sturgeon, Amber Waldron

Bishop Chatard High School
Kaitlyn Parsons

Bloomington High School South
Caleb Galoozis, Danny Huggins, Rebecca Kish

Carmel High School
Alexandra Keehan

Cathedral High School
Elizabeth Mooney, Lauren Pavlik, Dale Pedzinski

Columbus East High School
Danielle Conlon, Kimberly Lewis, Erin M. Roszczyk

Concordia Lutheran High School
Nathaniel Flores

Decatur Central High School
Freeman Parks, Devon Sease, Devon Sharpe

Donald E. Gavit Middle/High School
Hillary Misner

Floyd Central High School
Daniel Werncke, Ryan Wimsatt

Franklin Central High School
Vanessa Alexander, Megan Apsley, Michael N. Frank

Guerin Catholic High School
Micah Lustig

Harrison High School
Katelyn Clevidence

Henryville Jr.-Sr. High School
Jonathan Clark, Kaelynn Sweeney

Heritage Christian High School
Angela Kappus

Herron High School
Abigail R. Braughton

Home Schooled
Vincent Scott

Huntington North High School
Marissa Garner, Kelli Guhl

Jeffersonville High School
Chase Arthur, Kortney Davis, Jordan Emily

Jennings County High School
Evan Torline

John Adams High School
Rubi Alvarez, Gerardo Diaz, Brian Diaz, Javier Galicia, Jazmin Garcia, Marlen Ortiz, Joselyne Quino�ez, Federico Santamaria

Keystone Schools
Kirsten Habegger, Lauren Wagner

Knox High School
Kassandra Saylor

Lawrenceburg High School
Hannah Weismiller, Carissa Renee Wyatt

Lebanon High School
Meredith Erwin, Tyler Maksymicz, Claire Milam, Cayla Tait

Logansport High School
Jose L. Figueroa, Veronica Garcia, Wendy Lopez, Esmerelda Montero, Yosdy Palencia, Katherine Salas, Maria Salinas, Adriana Sanchez

Merrillville High School
Ashley Marie French

New Washington High School
Sarah Martin, Curtis Morgan

Northrop High School
Max Alexander, Monte Nelson

Oregon-Davis High School
Kristopher Surma

Park Tudor School
George Hornedo

Perry Central Community Schools
Tony N. Backer

Plymouth High School
Jorge Dorantes, Daryl E. Huff, Pablo Lopez, Valeria Nu�ez

Portage High School
Jessica Miller

Providence Cristo Rey High School
Felicia Felix

Riley High School
Teresa Arroyo, Emilio Cruz, Emmanuel H. Jacobs, Mariela Martinez, Jessica Navarro, Mayra Romo, Chelsea Tetzlaff, Matthew Walz

Salem High School
Rachel Milah

Seymour High School
Joseph W. Rust

Shawe Memorial Jr.-Sr. High School
Quinn Wise

Shelbyville High School
Adrianne Johnson

Sheridan High School
Patrick Samuels

South Knox High School
Heidi Burch

South Newton High School
Melody Ekstrom, Robert C. Slavens, Jill Wheelock

South Spencer High School
Kelsie Ball, Carla Cotton

South Putnam High School
Drew Cash, Nathan Welty

South Ripley Jr.-Sr. High School
Ryan Patrick Strimple, Benjamin Montgomery

Taylor High School
Christopher Ellison

Tell City High School
Jason Hackbarth, Jeffrey Andrew Kast

Thea Bowman Leadership Academy
Joshua Bradley, Lonelle Brown, Sonny Haskins, Tameca L. Hull, Krystal Jimerson, Morgan Lapsley, Tamilia G. Lloyd, Kameran Madison, Josiah Moore, Brittany Morris, Te'Ericka Smith, Ivory Tinsley, John D. Trotter, Willie Vinson, Dave Washington, Kahla Williams

Twin Lakes High School
Coran Coker, Ericka P. Ledyard

Washington High School
Jessica Bjorkland, Rakeesha D. Lane, Wonique Mantley, Suri S. Martinez

West Lafayette High School
Stacy Baker, Stewart Burns

Western High School
Russell Showers

Winamac Community High School
Mike Keller

Many thanks to the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis students who assisted with the 2008 Service Leader Summit:

Agnes Alvarez, Ebony Barney, Javier Barrera, Michael Burk, Courtney Cooper, Kimberly Dieser, Jared Driggers, Victoria Easton, Jacqueline Gill, Amanda Hart, Selene Hernandez-Buque, Lydia Higgins, Brittany Humphrey, Shani Jones, Whitney Kelly, Daniel Loyal, Ashley Mack, Shay Mays, Erin McCord, Gabriela Mendoza, Marissa Mooers, Sharee Myricks, Drew Neibert, Pascal Olame, Tiffany Reed, Jamie Rhodman, Hannah Wannemuehler and Monica Woodard.

Special thanks to the members of the 2008 Service Leader Summit Youth Council for their help in planning this year’s event:

Kristin Barnes, Lawrence North High School; Nicholas Estrada, IUPUI; Laura Gadson; Noblesville High School; Samantha Green, Huntington North High School; Julia Marrs, Zionsville Community High School; Brittany Neal, Homestead High School; Erin Torline, Jennings County High School; Lauren Trimble, Indiana State University; and, Britne Wimmer, Butler University.