“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.