Olivia Hensh was nominated by her art teacher to attend the Junior National Young Leaders Conference
Middle school student Olivia Hensh will head to Washington D.C. this summer for the Junior National Young Leaders Conference.
Hensh was nominated to represent Saint Mary School in Williamstown based on artistic merit, academic achievement, maturity and demonstration of leadership qualities, including respect and responsibility. The nomination originated with her art teacher, Tonya Riggins, and was unanimously supported by the rest of her middle school teachers, according to a press release through the Junior National Young Leaders Conference.
The conference is part of the Envision by WorldStrides family of programs that enable students to explore their interests and experience learning beyond the classroom.
At Saint Mary School, Hensh has served on the student council and will be a student ambassador, a member of the yearbook committee and TV news crew this coming year. She has starred in major roles in five theater productions and plays multiple recreation league sports in her town. Hensh has been taking martial arts for the last several years and has tested for her black belt.
A talented artist, Hensh and her mother have built an online Etsy shop called HenshHouseCreatives where customers can purchase digital download, printable files of Hensh’s scanned paintings and oil pastel drawings. All proceeds from their shop go toward fundraising for the conference.
While these accomplishments have made her family very proud, it is Hensh’s perseverance to succeed that is the most awe-inspiring, according to her nomination. Two years ago, she was diagnosed with epilepsy and through doctor appointments, medical procedures, and daily medications to keep her condition controlled, she has maintained an honor roll grade point average with humbleness and hard work.
Hensh hopes to be accepted into the Advanced Manufacturing and Applied Science Academy at the Gloucester County Institute of Technology after graduation from Saint Mary School.
At the Junior National Young Leaders Conference, seventh and eighth grade students from across the country will experience the power of democracy of the nation’s capital and learn from exemplary stories of courage and collaborate to discover solutions to some of today’s issues.
For more information visit www.envisionexperience.com.
