Nearly 200 students from nine Massachusetts high schools gathered at Bridgewater State University on May 28 for the 11th Annual Light Foundation Leadership Conference, the largest and most wide-reaching conference to date. With two additional schools joining this year, the program continued its steady expansion and offered students a full day centered on connection, agency, and action.

Hosted in partnership with Bridgewater State University, whose team plays an essential role in bringing the conference to life each year, the event welcomed students from Brockton High School, Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School, Canton High School, Dartmouth High School, East Bridgewater Jr/Sr High School, Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School, Scituate High School, Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School, and The Woodward School.

As students arrived, volunteers from Haynes Group greeted them at registration, and Dunkin’ provided coffee and baked goods to help kick off the morning. Students also brought canned goods to support Belmond’s Wish, a youth-led initiative addressing hunger and homelessness. The room filled quickly with conversation and curiosity as students settled in for a day designed to help them explore what leadership looks like in their own lives.

The program opened with a welcome from Light Foundation co-founder Matt Light, who introduced this year’s theme, Own Your Power. He encouraged students to recognize the influence they already have and to use it with intention, reminding them that leadership is built through choices, resilience, and the courage to act. Matt was joined by co-hosts Carrie and Natasha Mays, two dynamic youth leadership facilitators whose authenticity, national experience, and ability to connect with young people helped set the tone for the day. Their presence on stage quickly became one of the defining strengths of the program.

After a welcome from Bridgewater State University’s Vice President for Outreach and Engagement, Diane Bell, students launched into a high-energy block of activities designed to break down barriers and build trust. The Rock, Paper, Scissors Leadership Challenge filled the ballroom with movement and laughter, while The Web, a collaborative yarn activity, demonstrated how connection and shared responsibility strengthen a community. As one student later reflected, “There is no good leader without a good team.”

The morning continued with a keynote from Dan Cummings, founder of Journey Forward in Canton. His story of resilience and determination resonated deeply with students. One student wrote, “When Dan was talking, I learned that it is never too late if you are determined. Dan really inspired me.”

During the break that followed, students visited a service station to assemble toiletry bags for individuals experiencing homelessness and took photos at the selfie station. The service activity reinforced the idea that leadership is rooted in small, meaningful acts that support others.

The heart of the conference came next: the What Matters to You project block. Students were assigned to mixed-school tables and guided through a process of identifying issues they care about, discussing why those issues matter, and designing realistic, action-oriented solutions. Students also heard from young changemaker Belmond Schartz, founder of Belmond’s Wish, who began serving his community at just eight years old. His story, paired with the canned goods students brought that morning, offered a powerful example of youth-led impact.

As the project block concluded, Matt and Natasha announced the launch of the Light Foundation’s Take Action Grant, which will award three $750 grants to students or teams ready to bring their ideas to life. Students will also receive personalized recommendation letters to support future opportunities. One student shared, “I learned that I do not need to wait to make change. I can do it right now.”

After lunch in the Bear’s Den, students returned for an afternoon keynote with Micah Christian, lead singer of Sons of Serendip, finalists on America’s Got Talent. Originally from Randolph, Micah shared his journey of purpose, perseverance, and artistic passion. His message resonated with many. As one student wrote, “Hearing the stories from Dan Cummings and Micah Christian was really eye-opening. Now I want to take these messages and implement them into my own life.” After sharing his story, Micah performed a moving rendition of “Hallelujah,” a moment that brought the room together and added a meaningful note to the afternoon.

The conference closed with a recognition ceremony honoring a standout student from each school, followed by final reflections from Matt and Natasha. Students left with certificates, new connections, and a clearer sense of their own power. One student summed up the day simply: “One thing that I learned that I will take with me is to own my power and who I truly am.”

The Light Foundation extends its gratitude to the sponsors who made the day possible, including Douglas A. King Builders, the DiAntonio Family Foundation, Dunkin’, Haynes Group Inc., Sharon Credit Union, Rockland Trust Bank, and GraVoc. Their generosity and partnership help ensure that students from across the region have access to experiences that build confidence, leadership skills, and a sense of purpose.

With the success of this year’s expanded conference, the Foundation is now setting its sights on the future. Over the next three years, we aim to double the size of the Leadership Conference and bring this experience to even more students across Massachusetts. The ideas, energy, and leadership shown by this year’s participants make it clear that the demand is there and the impact is real. As we continue to strengthen and grow our youth programming, we remain focused on creating meaningful leadership experiences that reach more students and deepen the Foundation’s impact across the region.