Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Jason Gatlin Attends National Youth Leader Conference At Capitol

Jason Martinez Gatlin, 17-year-old son of former Gurdon and Okolona residents Donny Gatlin and Patsy Pettus Gatlin, recently attended The National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C.

The National Young Leaders Conference is a unique leadership development program for high school students who have demonstrated leadership potential and scholastic merit.

Gatlin was among 350 outstanding national scholars who attended the conference from across America.

Highlights of the program included welcoming remarks from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives and a panel discussion with prominent journalists at the National Press Club.

Scholars visited foreign embassies and received policy briefings from senior government officials.

Gatlin also meet with his senators and representative or an appointed member of their staff to discuss important issues facing Little Rock and the nation.

The National Young Leaders Conference was sponsored by the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization. Founded in 1985, the council is committed to fostering and inspiring young people to achieve their full leadership potential.

Over 400 members of Congress join this commitment as members of the Council's Honorary Congressional Board of Advisors.

Each year, only 7,000 outstanding youth nationwide may participate in the 20 sessions of the National Young Leaders Conference.

Gatlin is a senior at Little Rock Hall High School. He is captain of his debate team and a member of the Gentlemen's Club.

Relatives in Clark County include his grandparents, T.A. and Geraldine Gatlin, and two aunts Elnora Gatlin of Gurdon and Esther Norton of Okolona.