LAKEPORT –? He”s your typical 11-year-old, except that he could give some adults a run for their money in his knowledge of American history after his recent trip to Washington D.C.
Terrace Middle School sixth-grader Kenny Henninger spent five days last week at the Junior National Young Leaders Conference (JrNYLC) after his teacher nominated him when he was in the fifth grade.
“We asked congressional and senate leaders questions,” said Kenninger in his post-trip interview with the Record-Bee.
He also said that his days were mostly occupied with meetings on topics such as teamwork, responsibility and leadership, among other topics, along with tours of some of the nation”s historic sites and memorials.
According to program literature, the goal of the twice yearly conference is to “inspire students to recognize their own leadership skills, measure their skills against those of current and former leaders and return home with new found confidence in their ability to exercise positive influence within their communities.” But according to Henninger, that wasn”t even the best part.
Henninger said his favorite part was when he got to see the Viet Nam Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial. “I”ve always seen the Lincoln Memorial on TV and on pennies, and I never thought I”d be able to go there,” he said. Henninger said he found his own last name on the Viet Nam Memorial, a powerful experience for him since his last name is rare.
Henninger said he now has several pen-pals from the country, including one from Washington, D.C.
This year, approximately 200 middle school students from around the country participated. Henninger was one of three nominated from the general student body at his school and the only one to go.
He was sponsored by his grandmother for the trip”s cost.
Henninger also came away with the story of John Brown, a 12-year-old boy who was halfway across the country from his parents and perpetrated a raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859 because to free slaves.
Henninger said he wants to be a quarterback for USC when he grows up, a position that required the kind of leadership skills his Terrace Middle School teacher recognized in him.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
