Washington Association for Learning Alternatives

WALA STARS Student Leadership

 

WALA STARS 2010 Legislative Day Team

In the fall of 1993, a group of alternative program Work Experience Coordinators, led by Wally Campbell, approached the MN Assoc. of Alt. Programs Board with a proposal to form a statewide youth group. An Ad Hoc Committee was approved, funded and created an organization called MAAPYO. (MN Assoc. of Alt. Programs Youth Organization) Campbell chaired the group and was the vision & driving force behind a whirlwind year that included a remarkable list of accomplishments. (I'll fax a copy of the Year End Report) While Campbell was the leader, the Committee consisted of about a dozen committed and incredibly talented action-oriented folks who, amid much debate and compromise, created a solid foundation for a unique organization. The Spring Conference was the flagship. Modeled somewhat after  DECA with competitive events, (Wally & others had experience there) MAAPYO developers made a commitment to creating something new that allowed students to truly show what they learned. Demonstration Events, Artistic Performance & Display, as well as new competitive events were the result of a desire to create learning opportunities geared for alternative students.

In 1995 the name was changed to STARS. Participation has continued to grow, and expand with a variety of mini-conferences, competitions, gatherings and athletic events being developed through the years. While STARS activities have grown & been tweaked, the basic model set the first few years has endured. LifeSmarts competition, a national program, has been a big hit. The annual STARS Legislative Day, where students meet with their state senator & representative has been credited with having a major impact on legislation favorable to alternatives.

 In 2005 WALA held its first STARS Leadership Conference.  In 2007, the first Legislative Day was held in Olympia, WA on the first Friday of February.  Since that initial experience students have visited their legislators every year.  In 2008-09 WALA hosted two leadership conferences and a student competition.  A second group was started in Eastern Washington and held its first meeting in May 2009.

2010 Competition Day

STARS – Competition Day    ”Making a Difference”

Friday, April 30, 2010  - 

Lewisville Middle School

Battle Ground, WA.

9:30 check in

10:00 competition begins

 

 

Student competition in the following strands:

 

Employment

Leadership   (Community service / Humanitarian Aid)

Higher Education

 

For information contact Mini Rew rew.malinda@bgsd.k12.wa.us, (360) 834-1000

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