Northwest Suburban Integration School District is proud to present our 16th annual Giving Voice Leadership Conference!
The theme for the 2026 conference is, "LEADERS INSPIRE, EMPOWER, AND ASPIRE." The purpose of this leadership conference is to teach students teamwork, leadership skills and workplace values; promote interest in the field of education; and encourage students to enroll in post-secondary education.
We are seeking judges for our annual Giving Voice Leadership Conference. This conference will bring together approximately 450 high school students in grades 9-12 who are participating in the Educators Rising NWSISD and AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) programs. We invite you to participate in this event.
The theme for this year’s conference is “LEADERS INSPIRE, EMPOWER, AND ASPIRE.” Students will engage in a variety of interactive workshops and competitions, in addition to attending a college and career fair. Volunteers from the education and business communities will be available to share authentic life experiences that will guide students toward future success.
Here are some of the benefits of attending for students:
Interactive workshops and competitions
College and career fair
Opportunities to network with professionals
Guidance for future success
We need YOU to judge competitions!
Supporting student competitions is crucial because it fosters essential real-world skills such as critical thinking, teamwork, and resilience, while also boosting confidence and engagement. It bridges classroom learning with practical application, strengthens community networks, promotes equal opportunities, and prepares students for future career success.
This year, we will have 13 competitions...
AVID Jeopardy
College/Career Exploration Competition
Conference Theme Development
Creative Storybook Writing
Educational Debate
Educational Games
Employability Skills (Pre-judging takes place March 26th & 27th, 8am - 12pm. The final competition takes place during the conference.)
Essay
Ethical Dilemma
Impromptu Speaking
Lesson Plan Writing
NWSISD “Shark Tank”
Program Banner (New)
Conference date:
Thursday, April 9, 2026
8:30 am – 1:00 pm
Competitions will be held from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.
Location:
Doubletree Bloomington Minneapolis South Hotel
7800 Normandale Blvd
Minneapolis, MN 55439
(952) 835-7800
Interested individuals are invited to register as a judge by clicking HERE. We are looking for a minimum of two judges for each competition. To ensure fair distribution, we kindly request that each volunteer only participate in judging one competition. Please feel free to share this opportunity with any colleagues or friends who might be interested in serving as a judge.
Lunch will be provided. Those wishing to attend lunch are requested to send a separate email to jdavis@nws.k12.mn.us to confirm participation.
Your contribution of time is greatly appreciated. I look forward to hearing from you soon!