NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Rise Up Reno Youth Empowerment Summit is a free event taking place on Monday, Jan. 16 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hutchinson High School for 5th through 8th graders from the area. The main speaker will kick off the day.
"Dominic Miller, he's a former NFL player," said student leader Elijah Pettigrew. "He's going to come bring a message. It's going to be mostly about making good choices, how to be a positive role model in your community. He's obviously been on a big stage, been in the NFL, so he's got some experience being in front of people and spreading positivity through that."
The point of the summit is to let upper elementary and middle school kids see that you can have fun and be in a positive environment with older kids.
"I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to lead last year, as well," Pettigrew said. "It was actually the only group of all guys and it was a lot of fun. I was the only guy leader, so we all bonded over that, kind of made things competitive with the girls. It was a fun opportunity."
Rise Up Reno is all about helping kids know that there are people out there to support them in making positive choices.
"We do a lot of things to help set kids up for success," said Carla Smith with Rise Up Reno. "Including that one mentor, that one person that might meet with kids when they are younger and help them learn to read or help them practice skills. Then, when they are in middle school or high school, getting them into these leadership groups. From there, we want to give some parenting support."
If you have a 5th through 8th grader who is not having school on the 16th, no matter the district, they can come, just get them to Hutch High by 8 a.m., so they can hear Miller speak.
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