“What was that sound?”  Let me tell you, it was awesome! 

The electrifying rumble of cheering, laughing, greeting, meeting...waking up, talking over breakfast, walking across campus…  “You’re telling me this went on for four days?”  Yes! And then I saw them together in teams, creating, planning, designing, questioning, and applauding for one another!  “Tell me, who are these people?” 

They call themselves Pioneers, Near Peers, and Near Peer Interns…and from June 13-16 they flooded the campus of Pennsylvania College of Technology for the Make a Difference 2002 leadership conference.  This, the fifth year of Make a Difference, saw 172 high school students from 36 different schools come together to learn about leadership, team building, community awareness, and volunteer organizing through problem solving activities, focus groups, and just - plain - fun. 

Standing out in their royal blue t-shirts were 31 college-age Near Peer facilitators and 12 Near Peer Interns who expended their energy to offer Pioneers the best experience possible.  Thanks to the financial contributions of over 117 individuals, businesses, and organizations throughout the central Pennsylvania region, Make a Difference participants are going home to spread the word and improve their schools and communities.

MAD 2002 Conference Brochure (PDF format, 430K)