Building Resilience Through Leadership
Students in the Granite School District spent a day in resilience training and leadership awareness. They learned about bouncing back from setbacks and how small changes can yield positive results. Students were given awards recognizing their own determination, resiliency, and contributions they make at their school.
Large and small groups of students talked through scenarios about overcoming challenges in their lives.
Students received information on available business programs and scholarships available to students after they graduate.
Cyprus High School was among the school's recognizing students for their determination, resiliency, and service.
Walt Acra, GEAR UP site coordinator, was recognized for encouraging and motivating students at Kearns High School.
The Student Resilience Summit hosted students from Granite School District GEAR UP high schools on Jan. 10 at the University of Utah campus. Over 100 USU STARS! GEAR UP students in grant four attended this one-day workshop focused on helping them to have awareness and coping skills for overcoming challenges they face.
GEAR UP partnered with the WhyTry program to teach about the different aspect of resilience and social emotional learning. Working together in large and small groups, students talked through scenarios that they face each day. Basketballs were used to lead a discussion on overcoming a difficult home environment. Students explored how to bounce back after setbacks in life and approach situations from different angles. This also led to an exercise where students learned that small adjustments in life can create positive change.
Positive examples of leadership were celebrated as demonstrations of resilience in action at the summit. Students from each high school were recognized by their GEAR UP site coordinator for showing determination, resiliency, and helpfulness to other students at their school.
- Katherine Syfu, Kearns HS, for leadership in student government and academics
- Anna Parson, Taylorsville HS, for engaging in all school subjects and being a great influence to others
- Thomas Solai, Cottonwood HS, for maintaining high grades while caregiving at home
- Emily Gutierrez Vega, Cyprus HS, for doing well in school, and plans to be a lawyer
- Cristal Nuñez Cortez, Cyprus HS, for taking aviation classes at the GTI and plans to be a pilot
- Sofia Ruiz Samar, Cyprus HS, for taking business class and plans to be a realtor
- Fernanda Espinosa Granger HS, for leadership in student government, JROTC, and cheerleading
- Kenia Briones, Hunter HS, for leadership in academics and LIA, and for her kindness
Walt Acra, site coordinator from Kearns High School, was recognized for his efforts at encouraging and motivating students to complete courses, participate in college visits, and plan for their futures. He has been with the GEAR UP program at Granite School District since the start of the program in 2018.
“Activities like these are most valuable to our students,” said Jason Payne, USU STARS! GEAR UP director for grant four. “Meeting together on a university campus gives students the chance to see what college is like and learn what they can do after high school and how they can pay for it.”
The Summit was held in the ballroom of the Spencer Fox Eccles Business building on the University of Utah campus. Lunch was catered by Cafe Rio. The University’s School of Business shared information on business programs and scholarships available to students after they graduate.