The students are pictured in front of the sculpture, A Veteran’s Prayer for Eternal Peace, at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Iowa Events Center in downtown Des Moines. Pictured (L to R) are: Hannah Gates, Holly Wandschneider, Jenna Steinlage, Kody Crawford, Zeke Seuser, Carter Spore.

I had the honor of taking our freshmen student council members to the Ed Thomas Legacy Leadership Academy yesterday in Des Moines. The students got to hear personal stories of leadership, overcoming adversity, and doing what’s right from speakers such as Aaron Thomas, principal at Aplington-Parkersburg High School and son of the late Ed Thomas; Sandy Hatfield Clubb, Director of Athletics at Drake University; Brad Waller, Assistant Vice President of Community Relations with Hy-Vee; Al Kerns, former coach and teacher at Aplington-Parkersburg High School; and Jim Miller, Emeritus Head Wrestling Coach at Warburg College.