Further Ripples from the National Youth Leadership Training

This fall, I was reminded of the power of a simple smile, and the power that a single young person can have on their world. Evan Dalgaard, a former member of NYLC’s Youth Advisory Council and graduate of the National Youth Leadership Training, had both. Tragically, Evan died in a car accident in 2008. But his influence continues at NYLC, on both its staff and on the current Youth Advisory Council members.

This influence played out in October, when I was part of a team of NYLC youth and staff invited to the Missouri Service-Learning Conference in Jefferson City, to lead the youth track for more than 50 young people. The two-day conference concluded with a tribute to honor Missouri native Evan, who was from Kirkwood. A scholarship in Evan’s name was announced; it will support two youth from Missouri in attending the annual National Youth Leadership Training held each summer in Minnesota.

For the past three summers we also have honored an NYLT camper with the Evan Dalgaard Leadership Award at our closing banquet of NYLT. This year, the award went to Jorge Zamora, a student from Kelvyn Park High School in Chicago. What Jorge and Evan share in common are their smiles, coupled with the ability and the intention to connect with everybody. Evan is now a part of Jorge’s story as Jorge begins to define his path in the service-learning movement.

Evan attended NYLT in the summer of 2005, and wrote his mentor Beth Nickle afterwards: “NYLT was possibly the greatest experience I ever had. At the end of the week, we all sadly parted and promised to be strong leaders, to stand up against discrimination of all kinds, and to spread good through the world. The camps motto was, ‘Serve. Learn. Change the world,’ and all of us have to finish the final part of the motto.’”

After the presentation I received an email from a youth participant from Belton, Mo., who wrote: “When I heard about Evan, it kind of hit me. I felt like I really need to [attend NYLT]. I need to make a difference, and this was the first step in doing so. This conference has changed me in ways I didn’t know were possible. I have been told that I have a special purpose in the world, and I feel like I have found it!”

All of you, in touching this service-learning work, are touching Evan.

By Sarah Ullmer, NYLC Youth Initiatives Director