Ashton Acree, 17, a senior at Senior High, and Jake Szalat, 17, a senior at St. Edmond, were chosen for the honor. The two will attend the National Council on Youth Leadership conference at Washington University.

To be selected, students had to undergo an application and interview process.

Students from St. Edmond, Fort Dodge Senior High, Webster City, Eagle Grove, Humboldt, Algona Bishop Garrigan, Algona, Manson, and Pocahontas participated.

“Last spring there was 10 of us in our class that got selected to go to NCYL,” Szalat said. “We had to complete an application with an essay, and then we attended a leadership conference at Iowa Central.”

According to Szalat, the judges scored students on their application and essay. Students were also interviewed by the judges.

Only four students were selected to attend the conference.

Acree said it has been a valuable experience.

He said the judges put him on the spot during the interview.

“It was kind of intimidating at first, but the judges were really nice,” he said. “They asked us some difficult questions. They asked us about personality and how that affected our leadership.”

Acree said the interview lasted about 15 minutes.

“It was more conversational than anything and that was really nice,” he said. “You had to come up with the answers on the spot. They didn’t give you the questions ahead of time.”

Szalat said he was asked what his most meaningful high school experience was.

“My answer was getting to know people outside of my friend group and communicating with people and friend groups and trying to incorporate everyone into a big family since we are such a small school,” Szalat said.

He said his older brother, Ryan Szalat, was involved in NCYL when he was in high school.

“My brother went when he was a senior and I have always tried to be a good leader, so when I was nominated I wanted to do the best I could and show people that I was worthy,” he said.

Szalat said talking with other leaders has inspired him.

“It’s really humbling to see people in other areas such as West Des Moines,” he said. “There’s a girl that I met. She started her own business. It was like a food pantry business. That makes you want to be an even better leader. Hearing what she is doing makes me want to go out and make a difference.”

Acree said strong leadership is critical.

“A lot of people are afraid to get their voice out there and help out,” he said. “And it’s a leader’s job to help guide people through that. Rather than voice their opinion they help others voice theirs.”

“It’s also good to have a role model or leader that people can look up to,” he added.

Acree said leadership conferences have helped him become more comfortable with potential job interviews.

“A lot of it was more communication-based and having a formal interaction and coming up with answers on the fly,” he said. “It really helped me with interview situations and learn how to present myself in certain situations, whether it’s body language or how you dress. It also helped with resume building and that will help me through college.”

Acree has been involved in Link Crew, Dodger Senate, Storytellers, and swimming. He has also earned a silver cord for the past three years.

He plans to pursue a career in computer engineering.

Szalat has been involved in choir, musicals, National Honor Society, cross country, basketball, and baseball.

He plans to attend Iowa State University to study kinesiology.

The NCYL conference in St. Louis is Oct. 21 through Oct. 24.