On October 21, a group of student leaders from Delcastle Technical High School joined peers from across the state to participate in the Siegfried Youth Leadership Program (SYLP) at the University of Delaware. Since 2016, SYLP has empowered students in grades 8–12 to develop leadership skills, build self-awareness, and explore future goals. Sponsored by The Siegfried Group in partnership with UD’s Lerner College of Business and Economics, Horn Entrepreneurship, and Junior Achievement of Delaware, the conference is a high-impact opportunity for student leaders to grow their confidence, voice, and purpose.
Throughout the day, students engaged in interactive sessions focused on personal development, career exploration, and the power of intentional leadership. Many students left with a renewed sense of motivation—not only for themselves, but for the school communities they help lead.
For Quetzaly Avila (Dental Assisting '27, Student Council), the most impactful moment came during a workshop on authenticity. “We talked about the differences and similarities between your online persona and your real-life self,” she shared. “It really made me think about how we show up—and how we can be more intentional in both spaces.”
That theme of intentionality was echoed by others. Marjani Graves (Medical Assisting '27, Leading Ladies and Student Council), reflected on the role of technology in modern leadership. “We learned that using AI can be helpful, but it shouldn’t replace who we are,” she said. “It can support collaboration, but we have to make sure we keep our character and creativity.”
Lilly Reyes Rivera (Medical Assisting '27, Latinos Unidos and Leading Ladies), shared a more personal insight: “I learned that it’s okay to put yourself first sometimes. You need to remember what you want to do.”
The conference also helped students connect their learning to their roles at Delcastle. Saad Alzabidi (Information Technology '26, Muslim Student Association), shared how he plans to use what he learned with his leadership team. “I want to focus on sharing content that actually means something to us—not just putting stuff out there for attention.”
For Katie Hernandez-Peralta (Surgical Technology '27, Student Council and Latinos Unidos), the connections made throughout the day were just as valuable as the workshops. “Being around other student leaders gave me new ideas and inspiration."
Perhaps most powerfully, the experience reshaped how students viewed leadership itself. “I used to think leadership was just about leading others,” said Stanli Tabares ('29, Student Council). “But now I realize it also means leading yourself."
Quetzaly Avila added, “I learned that in order to push yourself to do more, you need to step out of your comfort bubble and take on new opportunities and experiences.”
As these student leaders look ahead, their commitment to promoting a positive school culture is stronger than ever. Mikayla Nowell (Biomedical Science '27, Student Council and National Honor Society), captured the spirit of the day perfectly: “I want to show others how exciting it is to get involved. By sharing my intrigue and excitement, I might be able to get more people to join our organizations.”
About the Siegfried Youth Leadership Program
Siegfried Youth Leadership Program® offers one-of-a-kind leadership development opportunities for students in grades 8-12, helping them become better individual leaders, enriching their lives, and inspiring them to create positive change around them.