Chris and Zachary Warrick were two of 250 outstanding middle school students from across the United States who recently took part in an extraordinary leadership conference held in Washington, D.C.

Themed “Voices of Leadership: Reflecting on the Past to Create the Future,” the Junior National Young Leaders Conference introduced young people to the rich tradition of leadership throughout American history, while helping them to develop their own leadership skills.

“The aim of the Junior National Young Leaders Conference is to inspire students to recognize their own leadership skills, measure their skills against those of current and former leaders and return home with new confidence in their ability to exercise positive influence within their communities,” said Marguerite Regan, dean of Academic Affairs for the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, the organization that sponsors the Junior National Young Leaders Conference.

During the six-day program, students take part in educational activities and presentations and explore relevant sites, such as Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in West Virginia and Washington’s museums and memorials.

Zachary, 11, and Chris,13, attend Rocky Mount Preparatory School.

They are the sons of Robert and Christy Warrick of Rocky Mount.