From February 5-7, six members of EA’s Upper School Student Council attended the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Student Civic Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C.
The NAIS Student Civic Leadership Summit invites high school students from across the country to build knowledge, develop strategies, and hone leadership skills to make a positive impact on a pressing national issue. This year, students broke into three tracks: Mental Health, Poverty, and Civic Engagement.
EA student leaders Shepherd Buccini '27, Charlotte Franklin '26, Ainsley Hixson '27, Jeremiah Montgomery '28, Frank Shanahan '26, and Liam Titus '28 selected Mental Health. Together with peers from other high schools, students used workshop time to brainstorm and strategize a plan to address mental health in their school communities.
“I think there is a growing awareness among our students of how closely mental health is tied to overall wellness and student belonging,” remarked Student Council Faculty Advisor Andrea Yu. “And, there is a growing drive from our students to brainstorm and lead initiatives that support community cohesion and wellbeing.”
To help form their vision, students visited Georgetown University, where they heard from VP of Student Life Eleanor Daugherty. They also spent an afternoon working with Casey Pick, director of law and policy for The Trevor Project, Laurel Stine, executive vice president and chief advocacy and policy officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Mary Giliberti, chief public policy officer at Mental Health America and past CEO of The National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Michael Linskey, director of congressional affairs at NAMI.
After collaborating with their peers and working with experts in the mental health space, students presented their vision statement and strategy to teachers and administrators attending the concurrent 2025 National Network of Schools in Partnership (NNSP) Annual Conference
In this Table Talk-style presentation, students outlined their ideas to encourage student dialogue and increase awareness surrounding both mental health issues and the support available at EA. They will later present their ideas to EA faculty and administrators for consideration.
“I’m so excited to have more student voices and ideas included in this larger movement to elevate student wellbeing at EA,” said Ms. Yu. “We truly have a community here that cares deeply for each other.”
Did you know that EA’s full-time counselors can provide support for students and families experiencing a wide range of challenges, from test anxiety to navigating changes at home? Reach out or explore mental health and wellness resources if you are in need of support.