Courtesy photo Roughly 112 students from eight school participated in the Power UP, a service and leadership conference in Manistique recently.

MANISTIQUE – Roughly 112 high school juniors and seniors converged in Manistique for Monday’s inaugural Power UP Student and Leadership Conference.

The purpose of the event was to encourage and provide advice to the next generation of leaders in the community.

Students from Bay de Noc, Engadine, Escanaba, Gladstone, Manistique, Munising, Newberry and Rapid River participated in the conference.

“They all brought either a National Honor Society, Key Club, or student leadership students here, and they will learn these great methods then head back and improve their little corner of the world,” said Manistique Area Schools Social Studies Teacher and 2024 Regional Teacher of the Year Mike Powers.

He said there had been a lull in the number of leadership conferences in the area and wanted to bring it back.

“I talked to my administrator in Manistique Area Schools and I said this will be a great void to fill. So, they said go for it,” Powers explained.

The conference featured multiple speakers, including three Michigan Teachers of the Year recipients and other award-winning presenters.

Speakers included Dr. Gina Pepin, professor at Northern Michigan University; Mark Burley, HOSA state director; Christi Ryan, Manistique Area Schools social studies teacher; Dr. Kristina Hansen, Manistique Area Schools superintendent; Kelley Cusamo, Michigan Teachers of the Year recipient; Nanette Hanson, Michigan Teachers of the Year recipient.

The keynote speaker for the event was Ryan Penneau, founder of the Penneau Training Group.

The students participated in ‘break-out sessions’ with the speakers, learning different aspects of leadership, service and working together.

“It’s very interactive,” Powers said.

Powers said one of the activities revolved around a group of students working together to build a tower out of paper. He explained that the first attempt to build the tower restricted communication from the students before allowing them to work together and discuss the next steps.

Each session covered leadership, communication, service and managing time and resources.

He said the kids really enjoyed the event, and those who can want to come back next year.

“It got very good feedback from the students,” Powers said.

While Powers made contacts and structured the event, he said a few students took charge of planning the conference.

Alexis McDade, Bri Tiglas, Bayleigh Buttermore, Cooper Curtis, Clara Cunningham, and Ava Kusnier with McDade leading the pack, ran the conference.

The six students took care of introductions, announcements, raffles, registration and more.

“It’s student-planned and student-run that day,” Powers said.

The conference was so full of energy that Powers and company are aiming to hold another conference in October of 2025.

He added that putting the event together was expensive, but the community stepped up to make it happen.

The conference received sponsorships from Savings Agency, Jacks Fresh Market, State Savings Bank, Limestone Federal Credit Union, Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital, Manistique Student Leadership, TEAM Chevrolet Automotive, Guardian Angel Driving Academy, IQ Designs, Superior State Agency, Zephyr Fuel, Nicolet Bank, Graymont, Manistique N.H.S, Yeti Service Club, Sauce UP Pizza and Carmeuse.

“The sponsors were fantastic and we couldn’t do it without (them),” Powers said.