Student plans to carry on message of conference

CJ Schmidt, a freshman at Williamsville East High School, takes part in the National Young Leaders State Conference.

CJ Schmidt, a freshman at Williamsville East High School, attended the National Young Leaders State Conference in Westchester County from April 17 to 20.

The conference, for "outstanding" eighth and ninth graders, is designed as a leadership development program, held in 32 cities. It focuses on an introspective and highly-personalized assessment of each student's leadership skills and abilities.

Schmidt was nominated by Lisa Schiavoni, an eighth grade science teacher at Transit Middle School.

"Active listening, appreciating diversity, conflict resolutions, the gift of feedback and presentation skills are just some of the ways that the workshops I took at the conference will help develop my people skills," he said. "I plan to use my leadership traits and techniques to improve my people skills and inspire others to become leaders."

He is a member of the Master Minds Team at East, and was a second place finisher in both the individual competition of Math is Everywhere at the University at Buffalo during the spring of 2005, and the team competition in the spring of 2003. A member of the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth since 2006, Schmidt was the recipient of a state award for one of the highest scores in New York on the SAT as an eighth grader.

He is also an active baseball player on school and travel teams.