Photograph by Skye Dunlap
Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary fame, on Monday shared songs and inspirational stories with the National Association of Student Councils conference participants and organizers.
Conference inspires legions of leaders
NASC sessions strive to spark young people's service to society
By Michele Leung and Sam Scott
More than 1,500 students from across the U.S. and Australia descended upon the west valley on June 24 for the kick-off of the National Association of Student Councils 2000 conference. According to conference organizers, the mission of the NASC conference is to create educational experiences for the high school delegates to heighten their effectiveness in personal, local, and global leadership.
The goals of the conference included teaching the students leadership skills of collaboration and participation in service to their communities and to society.
Harry Bettencourt, Fremont Union High School District's community and student services director, said he had been working since 1995 to bring NASC 2000 to the district. He and two students flew to Washington, D.C. in 1996 to make a presentation to the NASC board. After getting the bid in March 1996, Bettencourt said he and others had been working hard to make it happen. Not the least of Bettencourt's chores was finding host families for some 1,500 students and organizing a system of 35 buses to ferry everybody to and from events.
Photograph by Skye Dunlap
NASC participants from across the U.S. and Australia stuff teddy bears that were distributed to local organizations.
Bettencourt said his motivation for bringing all the extra work on himself was the benefit he has seen the conference give others, two people specifically.
A pupil he taught in the 1970s, and who he accompanied to the conference, still calls him at least twice a year. Bettencourt said the conversations often drift to the conference. The student, he said, believes the conference changed his life by making him believe he had to get involved. That student is now a teacher, a choice he told Bettencourt resulted from his time at the NASC conference.
Bettencourt also said his own son had epiphany after attending a NASC conference.
"It literally caused him to become involved in the community when he wasn't before," Bettencourt said.
Photograph by Skye Dunlap
Christine Thomas from Minnesota puts the final touches on her teddy bear during the NASC conference.
Bear hugs ruled the conference's June 26 afternoon session. In between learning about gun violence and flying high at Paramount's Great America, students made teddy bears to deliver to needy elders and children in the community.
Students received an empty bear shell to fill and sewed up the sides. The gym at Monta Vista High School, the host site of the conference, was a victim of the day's project. White stuffing was strewn about on the gym floor, and the basketball court lines were replaced with ribbons. The Teddy Bear Factory in San Francisco donated all the material, and local Girl Scout troops prepared the aprons. "It's a tradition at the NASC conference to devote a day to community service," said Mike Kalisvaart, one of the Monta Vista student organizers.
A strategically-placed apron to hide the uneven thread is the mark of a quality bear, said Monta Vista student Krysti Garcia. "Also, the nose has to be round and plump, and the arms can't be lumpy," she said.
"It's a great to go through the process and see a finished product," said Andy Tweeten of Montana, who wouldn't part with his bear without first posing with it.
Photograph by Skye Dunlap
Participants in the National Association of Student Councils conference got to work last week, unloading supplies at Monta Vista High School.
The bears were distributed to several local hospitals and retirement homes, as well as the trunks of several police cars. Officers plan to donate the bears to children involved in traffic accidents.
"I was impressed by the reaction of the residents," said activity director Ernie Harris at the Retirement Inn of Sunnyvale, one of the bear stops. "Usually, they tend to be cynical of young people. But they loved it. There were smiles everywhere."
But the teddy bears were only part of the packed schedule Monta Vista put together for its visitors. Students got a harsh reality lesson from an anti-violence play called "Bang, Bang You're Dead," written in the wake of a high school shooting in Oregon.
Photograph by Skye Dunlap
During the finale of Monday's concert at Stanford University, students held up red, white, blue, and gold glow sticks as closing 'candlelight' ceremony.
Bettencourt said the purpose of the presentation was to get students thinking about what they needed to do to prevent further campus shooting sprees. "The kids that do these crimes are not connected, they're invisible kids," Bettencourt said. "This helps students come up with a plan to take back to schools to connect all kids."
Besides the trip to Great America, students also were bused to Santa Cruz Boardwalk, while adults visited the Tech Museum in San Jose, took in Beach Blanket Babylon and Pier 39 in San Franciso and Chateau La Cresta in Saratoga. Many of the students were not afraid to show their exhaustion after a week full of excursions and activities. .On Monday, a few lay down on their bears for some shut eye. But judging by the buzz in the Monta Vista gym, California seems to have been a hit with the conference attendants.
"It's way better than Minnesota," said Mellissa Clark of her home state. Clark also said she was also surprised to find that California is not overrun by surfer guys and valley girls. "It's like Minnesota where people are nice and friendly," she said. "The only thing different is that people here drive nice cars."
Photograph by Skye Dunlap
Students from the NASC California delegation joined Peter Yarrow on stage Monday night for a rendition of "Puff the Magic Dragon".
Victoria Gomez, who is hosting three students at her house, marveled at the energy of her temporary tenants.
"When they come home at 11, they're full of energy," said "They get up at 5 a.m. for breakfast and have to be ready by 6:30 to be picked up by the bus."
"They're the happiest people I've seen," said Monta Vista student Urania Leung. "They're dancing at 7:30 in the morning. I just want to go to sleep."
Event organizers are delighted to see years of planning finally come to fruition. But a respite from crowds was on the minds of many. "I'm going to Maui on July 7," said Monta Vista Assistant Principal Joanne Laird.
Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
