Some 55 Evanston and Skokie youngsters, members of the Justin Wynn Leadership Academy, climbed aboard a chartered bus today, bound for the YMCA Camp Duncan in Ingleside for a weekend of fun and planning for the coming year.
Some 55 Evanston and Skokie youngsters, members of the Justin Wynn Leadership Academy, climbed aboard a chartered bus today, bound for the YMCA Camp Duncan in Ingleside for a weekend of fun and planning for the coming year.
The academy consists of students selected during fourth grade—two selected by the teaching staff at each of District 65’s 12 elementary schools—who exemplify the leadership, citizenship, and sportsmanship qualities of Justin Wynn, who died in a tragic swimming pool accident in 1987 at the age of 9.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Justin Wynn Fund and Academy.
More than 300 students have received the Justin Wynn Award since its founding, and its recipients meet regularly to participate in community service activities that benefit such local charities as the YWCA Women’s Shelter, Hilda’s Place Soup Kitchen, the Infant Welfare Society’s Special Olympics Team, and the Evanston Animal Shelter.
“Through Justin’s tragic death, we have been inspired to sustain and encourage many of Evanston’s youth, a diverse group of fourth through twelfth graders who are brimming with potential as future leaders,” according to Elaine Clemens, the group’s program director.
The excursion to Camp Duncan, where students will mix fun with serious meetings to plan for the new year, was made possible through funding from the Women’s Club of Evanston.
Top: Program Director Elaine Clemens checks off names as students arrive for departure.