Teegan Wittrock, a sixth grade student at Kingfisher Public Schools, has been selected to attend the Junior National Young Leaders Conference (JrNYLC) in Washington, D.C., this summer.

This prestigious five-day program gathers outstanding middle school students from across the nation to explore leadership through the lens of American history and government.

Standout students are selected for this honor based on their academic excellence and leadership potential.

Wittrock is the son of Brad and Starla Wittrock of Kingfisher.

He was nominated by Kingfisher Upper Elementary School counselor Lara Kostka, who said she recognized his exceptional academic achievements and his ability to lead with integrity and purpose.

“I am so proud of the young man Teegan is. He exemplifies the qualities of a quiet, but fierce leader in his classes at the KUE,” Kostka said. “He truly commits to the task of academic excellence and he is well deserving of the nomination and opportunity to attend JrNYLC in Washington, D.C.

He will represent Kingfi sher well.” While in Washington, D.C., Wittrock will have the opportunity to visit iconic landmarks including Mount Vernon; the U.S. Capitol; the Lincoln, Jefferson and Washington monuments; the National Museum of American History; and the White House.

These visits are part of a curriculum that uses the nation’s capital as a living classroom.

At the conference, Wittrock will participate in immersive simulation exercises such as “A Day in the Life of the President,” engage in collaborative field study reflections and take part in hands-on workshops.

Among the unique activities is the chance to design a personal monument and draft a student constitution.

A cornerstone of the JrNYLC is the “Voices of Change” project, which challenges students to create their own student-led grassroots organizations, building critical skills in public speaking, teamwork, and advocacy.

The conference is designed to help young leaders like Wittrock grow by setting clear goals, improving communication, embracing models for solving complex problems and building effective teams.

“I’m super excited to see Washington, D.C.,” Wittrock said. “It’s going to be amazing to see all the monuments and famous landmarks.

“I’m also excited to work on my leadership skills and meet other people from all over the country.”