Leadership Workshop is an annual, school-sponsored event where students spend a weekend participating in hands-on activities designed to develop practical leadership skills. The workshop is open to all Salem High School students in grades 9–11. This year’s workshop will take place on Friday, February 27, through Sunday, March 1, at the Triple R Ranch in Chesapeake. This year’s workshop costs $70 and includes lodging for Friday and Saturday nights, a T-shirt, a binder with leadership resources, and six meals. Salem is also offering a limited number of scholarships for students who may be unable to attend due to the fee. Every year, the advisors and staff look forward to seeing new faces at the Round-Up assembly.
“I always hope that [students] find a sense of belonging within the Salem High School community through leadership workshop,” said Leadership Workshop Coordinator and science teacher Meredith Cunningham. “There are people that you can meet at workshop that might be in your life forever, [and] you might not have the chance to meet them unless you attend. Workshop gives all students a chance to embrace their talents, interests, and even mistakes to build a better life for themselves.”
Leadership Workshop is where students gain the tools they need to lead. Introverts learn how to find their voice through strategic thinking, while extroverts discover the importance of active listening. Students who enjoy working with others learn how to connect different personality types. Leadership Workshop is a place where everyone can grow and develop into the leaders they are meant to be.
“A common misconception is that you have to be the loudest person in the room to be a leader, but this isn’t true,” said Leadership Workshop advisor and AP Spanish teacher Ashley N. Pate. “Leadership isn’t a title you’re given; it’s a set of tools you choose to pick up.”
Many students choose to pick up these leadership tools again when attending Leadership Workshop as a delegate from a previous year, eager to improve.
“What I am really looking forward to this year is that unique spirit of the workshop where everyone feels comfortable being themselves and is genuinely excited to participate,” said sophomore Donna Rose Manugo. “There is no embarrassment, just authentic enthusiasm, and that is what makes the whole experience so special.”
As for freshmen, some have taken the leap to open themselves up to a new experience and to get involved within their school community early on.
“I am looking forward to the new people that I am going to meet and the connections that I will be making at this workshop!” said freshman John Caleb Diwa. “My brother, one of the staffers, told me about how many new people he met and all the new friends he made during the Leadership Workshop, and that’s the one thing that I cannot wait for.”
Leadership Workshop is run by four different staff committees, each responsible for specific parts of the event. From October through March, student staff members and advisors meet weekly to plan and prepare for the workshop. The Instruction Committee designs the lessons taught during the workshop, while the Counseling Committee plans and leads all counseling group meetings throughout the weekend. The Entertainment and Recreation Committee creates activities, songs, dances, and skits for the delegates. The Publicity and Communication Committee is responsible for designing and promoting advertisements and banners for Round Up and the workshop.
“One of the most exciting things that we try to plan for every single year is the element that every student that comes, no matter what journey that they are on, will find something that will stick with them their entire life,” said Cunningham. “Whether that be from the intense competitions, teambuilding games, entertainment nights, or even heritage. “
The SHSLW (Salem High School Leadership Workshop) 2026 Staff consists of 20 total staffers: Ty Beisser, Kiki Cabanyan, Nyles Deloatch, John Diwa, Lolo Elmquist, Maria Genato, Gabe Johnson, Magdalena Kress, Mirabelle Malone, Sophia O’Connor, Alaina Palalay, Rylee Partridge, Chloe Pastrana, Ava Phan, Eli Saquilayan, Logan Smith, Katherine Tapman, Zoe Valverde, Reese Williams, and Bethany Wilmoth. Workshop staff members work tirelessly for months to not only promote workshop to the Salem community, but to create long lasting memories with a community both the delegates and staff get to be a part of.
“My favorite part of Workshop is at the very end of the day when we all have Gathering together. Gathering is when everyone comes together in the Ponderosa to sing Workshop songs after a day of leadership and learning at Triple R,” said second year staffer and senior Lolo Elmquist. “I love how it is a time when delegates and staff can come together and reflect on their growth that they made that day, the new experiences they had, and also look ahead to the next day and get excited for what tomorrow holds at Workshop. It is also a time where you can look around and see everyone and recognize this new community of people you are now a part of.”
For those planning to apply to this year’s Workshop, it’s imperative that they have an open mindset and curiosity about what comes next on Workshop weekend.
“For all applicants, come in with an open mind and have empathy. As any applicant, they should have empathy for others and their situation and let others take their time,” said first year staffer and senior Reese Williams. “For returning applicants, an open mind is so important because experiences will be different, and for new delegates, be open minded and have empathy for them because you were once in their position. For new delegates, stay open minded and open to the experience and get rid of everything you know about what ‘leadership’ is.”
Applications became available to students on Wednesday, January 7th, and were due Friday, January 16th. The selected list of delegates was posted on Wednesday, January 21st, outside Mrs. Cunningham’s room 218.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dcXsCWfoeVgrMZAq3WtcDBH0oBf31xrY/view?usp=drivesdk
