Representing the SCV

16-year-old Valencia resident one of 67 selected to attend internationally renowned leadership program

A 16-year-old Valencia resident was recently selected as one of 67 students worldwide to attend an internationally renowned leadership program.

Kristen Kim, an incoming senior at Valencia High School, was in Edmond, Oklahoma this past week representing the Santa Clarita Valley at the Four Star Leadership with General Tommy Franks program, a free summer program that provides students with inclass instruction and mentoring opportunities with national and international leaders.

From July 13-18, Kim traveled on various excursions across Oklahoma, where she met and engaged with national and international leaders including politicians, dignitaries and star athletes.

Kim was chosen due to her demonstrated leadership abilities and outstanding character, program officials said.

Among her many activities and accomplishments, Kim is a member of the California 782nd Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps and a volunteer at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital.

The young student’s impeccable qualities were on display during the program’s Ethics Bowl tournament, which had Kim address practical leadership and ethical scenarios individually in a persuasive speech and writing competition, before teaming up with other attendees for the collaborative portion of the tournament.

While in Oklahoma, Kim also had the opportunity to earn a portion of more than $30,000 in scholarships, as well as internships and letters of recommendation.

Program curriculum is designed around the four core principles that led the nowretired Gen. Tommy Franks through his 38-year military career: character, common vision, communication and caring, a news release states.

In the same release Gen. Franks added, “Our leadership program is dedicated to investing in the lives of tomorrow’s leaders and helping them appropriately develop the tools needed for growth in their personal lives and their communities.”