Nischwitz joins the ranks of young leaders in Mahoning

By GRACE WYLER gwyler@vindy.com

Ashley Nischwitz, a sophomore at Canfield High School, hopes to become a leader of the Mahoning Valley community.

Nischwitz was one of 48 students inducted into the 2010 sophomore class of the Youth Mahoning Valley Leadership program on Jan. 27.

The program, run by the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce, selects sophomore and junior students in Mahoning and Trumbull counties who have demonstrated leadership potential. It seeks to provide these students with tools to continue to be leaders in the community.

Nischwitz said she has demonstrated leadership abilities through her involvement in school and church activities. She also plays for the Canfield High girl’s soccer team and a club soccer team.

“The ladies who are in charge of the program really made us see how everyone can be a leader in their own way,” Nischwitz said. “I think the program will make me a better leader.”

The program aims to address the challenges and problems in the community, as well as to explore opportunities in the area. Meetings with the students focus on current events and issues, such as health care, politics and social services.

Students in the program come from a variety of backgrounds and are given the chance to share one another’s point of view.

Nischwitz said that she has enjoyed meeting people from different parts of the Mahoning Valley community.

“We are all there for the same reason but we are all involved in different programs and activities,” she said. “It is a great opportunity to talk to other people.”

The program provides students with the opportunity to learn more about their community while also honing their leadership skills, Tony Paglia, vice-president for government affairs for the Chamber of Commerce, said.

“We are getting a lot of our young people involved in community leadership,” he said.