Reaching the very top of anything does not happen without hard work as part of the equation. Thirty student council members learned this when they attended SUMMIT or Students Uniting to Make Meaningful Influences Together in Lubbock on Jan. 21.

Around 480 area students gathered at the Lubbock Civic Center and discussed problems and solutions to benefit their communities.

“SUMMIT is a student leadership conference,” senior StuCo officer Sarah Patterson said. “There are main speakers and break-out session speakers talking about different issues within the schools and communities of Region 17 and also providing ways to try and conquer those problems.”

Patterson has been on the planning committee for SUMMIT throughout high school both in Lamesa and Seminole.

“SUMMIT has influenced me by allowing me to hear different stories and perspectives on issues that our generation is struggling with in our schools and communities,” Patterson said. “I’ve also learned a lot about various subjects that I wouldn’t have known before.”

Students listened to two keynote speakers and attended three break-out sessions. Each school on the planning committee was responsible for leading two sessions.

“A main reason for students to attend SUMMIT is to get information about how to fix problems,” SUMMIT sponsor Nancy Patterson said. “Students learn about different issues at break-out sessions and keynote speakers there and take that knowledge back to their communities.”