LocalEducation

CATHOLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TRAIN TO BECOME FAITH-FILLED LEADERS

TACSC’S SUMMER LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE PREPARES STUDENTS TO MAKE POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR WORLD

By Staff     7/28/2016

The Association of Catholic Student Councils, better known as TACSC, just completed its second Summer Leadership Conference, attended by more than 115 Catholic middle school students from Orange County. Rising 6th, 7th and 8th grade students visited UC Irvine to spend 5 days and 4 nights learning how to become faith-filled Catholic leaders. The 34-year-old nonprofit organization was originally founded to promote Catholic leadership and Student Council in parochial schools. TACSC mission is to develop moral leaders to positively impact our world.

Today, students do not have to be a part of student government to learn about becoming real-world strategic planners, effective communicators, life-long mentors and servant leaders. Executive Director Heidi Johnson said, “Students learn who they can become from our incredible college and high school staff, and where they will go, being on a college campus. It is a life-changing experience for our delegates.”

This year over 10 schools from the Diocese of Orange sent students to the Summer Leadership Conference at UCI. Participating schools included School of Our Lady, St. Anne Elementary and St. Barbara in Santa Ana; St. Francis of Assisi in Yorba Linda; St. Joachim in Costa Mesa; Sts. Simon and Jude in Huntington Beach; Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Habra; and St. Jeanne de Lestonnac in Tustin.

Diocese of Orange Superintendent Greg Dhuyvetter was the keynote speaker at Sunday’s closing ceremony, which was followed by Mass for over 400. Dhuyvetter spoke to the students about mindfulness in leadership, challenging students to reflect on their faith as they lead.

TACSC will serve over 450 middle school students this summer at their three Summer Leadership Conferences and serve over 2,700 students this year including their high school Core Leadership Team Program and their Student Leadership Days.

As one of the young delegates said, “I can not wait to come back to TACSC and teach the skills that I was taught, as a counselor. I know I am a better person, am closer to God and know that I am a leader who can make a difference in the world.”

For more information please visit TACSC.org