Leadership, Education Focus of Annual Summit for Middle School Students

 

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah leaders will speak to approximately 1,500 middle school students about the value of a college education and provide guidance on developing their leadership skills during the annual Multicultural Youth Leadership Summit.

 

The event focuses on students from ethnic and indigenous backgrounds and is held in support of Governor Gary R. Herbert’s “66 by 2020” education initiative. It will be held Monday, Oct. 3, 2016, at the Salt Palace Convention Center, between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

 

The population of minority students continues to rise in Utah, comprising nearly a quarter of the public school enrollment, according to the Utah State Board of Education. Thirteen school districts in the state have at least a 20 percent minority population, and three districts are “majority minority.” State and national data show that those numbers will continue to grow.

 

Focusing on middle school students is important because of an increasing emphasis on higher education for minority students. While graduation rates have continued to increase, data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that minorities still lag their peers in attaining college degrees.

 

“These students represent the increasing diversity of our youth and our state,” said Hong Vu, the director of the Utah Office of Multicultural Affairs. “We want them to be inspired by their culture, embrace different backgrounds, and become leaders among their peers.”

 

The program includes remarks by Governor Gary R. Herbert, Lt. Governor Spencer J. Cox, Attorney General Sean Reyes and community leader Nubia Pena. Tenth-grade student Saida Dahir of Murray High School will serve as the youth speaker.

 

What: Multicultural Youth Leadership Summit 2016

When: Monday, October 3, 2016

Where: Ballroom at Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. A full agenda is available on request. Gov. Gary Herbert will speak at9:15 a.m. to open the session, followed by Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox at 9:35 a.m. Attorney General Sean Reyes will give the closing address at approximately 2:20 p.m.

 

The ballroom and south foyer can accommodate multiple media outlets and cameras for filming during the event. Individual interviews with most speakers and students will also be available.