West Chicago Community High School’s National Honor Society hosted its first-ever underclassmen Leadership Conference on March 6 in the Learning Resource Center, bringing together freshmen and sophomores nominated by teachers for their leadership potential.
The student-led event featured team-building activities, breakout sessions on leadership and involvement, and a keynote presentation from automotive YouTuber Steve Hamilton of “The Hamilton Collection.“
“Our goal was to help freshmen and sophomores see the many ways they can get involved at WEGO and begin developing leadership skills early in their high school careers,” adviser Leslie Fireman said. “The conference was designed to give them practical advice from students who are already leading clubs, teams, and organizations at the school.”
After months of considerable planning, members of the National Honor Society Leadership Conference Committee arrived early to finalize preparations for the 2026 Leadership Conference in the Learning Resource Center.
“I think the conference went so much better than people anticipated,” conference chair Keelie Steward said. “The months leading up to it were definitely stressful. It took time to get it approved, and after that it was just task after task, but we pulled it off well.”
Name tags featuring the conference theme, “Accelerate Your Path to Success,” were displayed on a counter in the LRC before the start of the event. The student planning committee selected the theme to emphasize momentum, goal setting, and leadership development.
Starting at 7:30 a.m., students were able to explore a mini club fair. Gathering around tables in the LRC, they learned about clubs and organizations available at West Chicago Community High School. The event encouraged freshmen and sophomores to explore ways to become involved and begin developing leadership skills early in their high school careers. Organizations such as marching band, Student Council, Horticulture Club, and BPA were represented.
A series of icebreakers kicked off the conference, which began at the first-hour bell. Students worked together during a marshmallow-and-toothpick tower challenge designed to promote collaboration and problem-solving. The activity served as an icebreaker early in the conference and encouraged participants to quickly connect with peers from different groups. The winning group won a bag of marshmallows.
Participants, including sophomore Edgar Hernandez Mendez, took part in two other group icebreakers during the conference: a chair switching activity that got them moving depending on an item of clothing they wore, as well as a rock-paper-scissors competition. Organizers designed several interactive exercises to help students meet one another and build a sense of community before attending breakout sessions.
Automotive content creator Steve Hamilton of “The Hamilton Collection,” a YouTube channel with more than two million subscribers, delivered the keynote address to conference attendees. Hamilton, who has built a following documenting hypercars and automotive culture, spoke to students about pursuing passions, turning interests into opportunities, and rising up through the ranks.
“A moment that stood out to me was hearing Steve Hamilton talk about his journey and everything he did to become successful. He explained that he did not come from a strong background, which showed me that no matter what cards you’re dealt in life, it’s up to you to make the most of them and work toward your goals,” Hernandez Mendez said.
Hamilton’s Lamborghini Revuelto sits outside Door 1 after arriving on campus for the keynote session. The vehicle drew attention from students throughout the conference — and even the hallways of West Chicago Community High School. Two students were late getting to the PE locker room after gym class because they snuck a peek at the car after their workout.
Students gathered near the entrance to catch a glimpse of Hamilton’s Lamborghini Revuelto despite rainy weather and lightning that prohibited them from going outside. The unexpected appearance of the hypercar was one of the most talked-about moments of the conference. Communications Coordinator Roy Ramos said he could hear the car’s engine revving outside and thought there was construction going on.
Juniors and NHS members Niyati Patel and Ruby Guerrero (not pictured) lead a breakout session titled “Starting a Club” during the first round of presentations. The student-led session offered advice on turning ideas into new organizations at West Chicago Community High School. Patel and Guerrero explained how they launched their own organization, Mind Over Matter, earlier this school year.
Across the room, juniors Brian Correa and Cesar Munoz (not pictured) of the wrestling team spoke to attendees during another breakout session.
“One leadership lesson I wanted underclassmen to take away from my wrestling experience is to set your standards as high as possible to create an environment that leads to success,” Correa said.
Freshmen and sophomores attending the event were nominated by teachers and club sponsors as students with leadership potential.
In each round of breakout sessions, attendees could choose from three different presentations ranging from “Social Media Strategy” to “How to Lead.” Upperclassmen from various organizations, including HOSA, BPA, and the Wildcat Chronicle, were invited to present on leadership topics and share experiences from their own involvement in clubs, athletics, and school activities.
“It meant so much to me that they saw me as someone who is a good leader at this school and entrusted me to speak to the future of this school about ways to get involved,” senior Valeria Silva of HOSA said. “The students did an amazing job at organizing this event and making sure everyone had a good time!”
Following their presentations in the second round of breakout sessions, seniors Rachel Knaack and Silva, as well as Campus Life sponsor and substitute teacher Eli Tyler, and NHS members Cristal Salinas and Lia Mazurski (both seniors), struck a pose.
“I want underclassmen to realize that joining clubs or activities is not a burden, but a way to join a community of people who share the same goal,” Silva said. “In HOSA, that means preparing for a future career in the healthcare field.”
Attendees collaborated and shared ideas during a conference session in the Learning Resource Center. The event was designed to encourage discussion and interaction among students from different grade levels and activities.
“One thing I learned is that being a leader means taking initiative and helping a club grow instead of just being part of it,” Hernandez Mendez said. “We talked about ways to grow clubs through fundraising, social media promotion, and getting more students involved.”
Stacks of pizza from Little Caesars were prepped for attendees just before the conference lunch break. The student planning committee coordinated meals and logistics for the day-long event, and worked with NHS’ Fundraising Committee to raise money for necessities.
Attendees and National Honor Society organizers gather for a group photo at the conclusion of the 2026 Leadership Conference in the Learning Resource Center. The event marked the first time NHS hosted a leadership conference specifically for freshmen and sophomores at West Chicago Community High School.
“A moment that stood out to me was the lesson about rejection,” sophomore Gelila Abegaz said. “It showed me that as long as one person believes in you, you can achieve a lot.”
