FROM STAFF REPORTS

Devon Lacey, a junior at Massaponax High School, attended the National Youth Leadership Forum on National Security in Washington this fall.

Lacey, 17, has been involved with a variety of leadership opportunities, including:

4-H camp, starting at the age of 9, at which he worked his way from camper to counselor-in-training to counselor with a goal of becoming a camp leader.

Tutor for third-grade students at Cedar Forest Elementary School in Spotsylvania County.

President of the Praise Team at his church.

"It is my sincere desire to serve my country, and I am fully committed to obtain the skills necessary to achieve this goal," he wrote about his participation in the leadership program.

The title of the program in Washington was "Exploring American Diplomacy, Intelligence and Defense."

The program was designed to introduce students to careers in national security, intelligence, the diplomatic corps more.

The program curriculum was based on actual world events.

"Students used critical thinking, leadership and public speaking skills to tackle the complexity of national decision making as they examined how the United States plans for peace and prepares for crisis," a press release from the program stated. "They employ a crisis decision-making process similar to that employed by the nation's top policy makers."

The forum was founded in 1992 and programs are offered in 14 cities across the country in a wide variety of career fields, including national security, law and medicine.