(Photo by Gwen Sour) From left, Liz Morrison, Monica Bailey and Lila Dugan present on their recent trip to the Ohio Association of Student Leaders Summer Workshop during the Belpre Student Council Retreat, Wednesday morning.

BELPRE — Student leaders at Belpre High School came together this week for a two-day retreat centered on leadership and collaboration.

As part of the event students took part in I.M.P.A.C.T. Day, which stands for Inspire, Mentor, Partner, Advocate & Connect Together.

The event, held as part of the Belpre High School Student Council’s summer training retreat, is modeled after a program from the Ohio Association of Student Leaders (OASL). It featured interactive leadership workshops, team-building activities, and a unique speed networking session that connected students with local business owners, educators, and community leaders.

“We want our students to see the impact they can have on the community — and the impact the community can have on them,” said Robin White, Belpre student council’s advisor. “I.M.P.A.C.T. Day is about learning from each other. The students hear about real-life experiences from community leaders, and in return, those leaders listen to the students and take something away from the conversation as well.”

During the speed networking event, students rotated through small group conversations with community members from across professions from the Campus Martius Museum, WVU Medicine to Roseland Coffee Bar, discussing their leadership journeys, lessons learned, and future goals. The format encouraged both sides to reflect and share, said White.

For many student council members, being involved in student leadership at a smaller school like Belpre carries a deeper meaning.

“Since we’re such a small school, I wanted to bring new ideas to Belpre,” said Liz Morrison, a rising senior. “I wanted to bring newer ideas from different schools and go to different leadership opportunities and bring back ideas to Belpre.”

Roz Ensor, another rising senior, shared her perspective on being on the student council.

“I really like gaining new experiences, like community service in school,” she said. “I’ve just been able to try a lot of new things that I wouldn’t have been open to if I didn’t join student council.”

Students also reflected on what I.M.P.A.C.T. Day meant to them personally.

“It really brings us all together,” rising senior Liv Harrington said. “We get to connect to the community and hear stories from people of all ages and backgrounds. It really flipped my mindset on how similar life after high school can be…and how there are people out there who care and are working to make our community better for when we step into it as adults.”

In addition to the networking, the retreat featured presentations by students who attended OASL’s summer workshop — an intensive statewide program that fosters student leadership through year-round conferences, retreats, and events.

“Belpre is deeply involved in OASL,” White said. “This year, we’re excited to be hosting the state conference right here at Belpre, where we’ll welcome about 250 student leaders from across Ohio.”

Belpre’s student council includes an executive team and seven elected representatives from each grade level. Members are chosen by their peers and are expected to play an active role in improving the student experience and representing the voice of the student body. White praised the student council members for their dedication, noting that many gave up part of their summer break to attend the retreat and prepare for the school year.

“It’s something that we stress, that they take seriously, that is a top-priority activity for them. It’s a commitment that they make and they’re charged with doing things for the school to better the student environment and the impact that they’re going to have on the kids,” he said. “We talked a lot about our mission and how we want to serve the school–and they came up with four core values that will guide them: leadership, compassion, attention, and inclusivity.”