On Jan. 10, the seniors in the School & Community Leadership Program at Kennedy High School presented their Cougar Talks, an evening of sharing unique ideas and messages.

Over the first semester, students developed ideas they are passionate about and transformed them into a TED-style talk.These senior student presenters, who have been a part of the three-year School and Community Leadership program since sophomore year, recited talks about their chosen topics to an audience.

“The way they developed their talk and collaborated to improve each other was probably the most impressive part,” noted teacher Brad Seidman.

The 25 students in the program shared their experiences traveling the world, experiencing happiness, experiencing their family traditions, and more.

Skylar Weiss’ speech, The Very Last Place I Want to Be, spoke about overcoming the fear of public speaking and challenging herself to present a Cougar Talk.

Dan Kahn's speech, The Perfect Formula, addressed how Formula 1 racing relates to life and how “every aspect hinges on precision.”

“The meticulous attention to details and maintenance of the car exemplifies how precision leads to excellence,” he noted. “With precision comes planning and patience. Precision makes us more conscious and responsible. In a world where there is a need for speed, just like in Formula 1, we must pay attention to details, communicate, be patient and organized.”

“I am full of pride over the way these students presented their talks,” added Seidman. “They were confident, mature, and extremely poised.”

Click here to view the photo slideshow.

Date Added: 1/18/2024