201212_UTMinuteman_W.. - Keep Trees

Utah Students Walk a
Mile in Guardmembers’
Shoes at 51st Annual
Freedom Academy
Story by Senior Airman Lillian Harnden
Photos by Sgt. Ashley Baum and
Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Giacoletto-Stegall
High school students from across Utah attend the 51st
annual Freedom Academy at Camp Williams. Students
learned leadership skills and patriotism from Utah National
Guard Soldiers and Airmen during the weeklong event.
18 Winter 2012
CAMP WILLIAMS, Utah — From across the entire State of Utah,
89 high school seniors gathered to attend the 51st Annual Freedom
Academy hosted by the Utah National Guard at Camp Williams July
29 to August 3.
Freedom Academy’s purpose is twofold: to teach leadership
skills and inspire students to become future community leaders and
to promote patriotism by exposing students to processes designed to
maintain America’s freedom and liberty.
“Freedom Academy gives delegates an expanded view of
leadership and the freedoms we enjoy, and how those two things are
so linked together,” said Maj. Matthew Badell, Freedom Academy
Director.
Annually, every high school in Utah has the opportunity to send
up to two seniors each. School counselors usually nominate their
student-body offi cers to attend Freedom Academy.
“These are delegates who have been selected by their peers to
be a leader in their school,” said Badell. “They are already starting
to show some of the seeds and promise of leadership by seeking
out offi ce in their schools. Freedom Academy provides them an
opportunity to expand their view. No leader has ever been successful
without vision and without the ability to articulate that vision and
communicate. We give them some tools and experiences that will
help them become better leaders.”
The hope is that by selecting student-body offi cers to attend,
they will bring back their Freedom Academy experiences to share
among their peers, said Badell.
“We’ve heard of these delegates going back to their schools and
hosting Freedom Days, where they have the student body assemble
and they bring someone in to talk about freedom or a patriotic
theme. So those are neat experiences that are inspired from Freedom
Academy,” said Badell.
A delegate from Davis High in Kaysville, Sarah Z., said Freedom
Academy taught her that she can really make a difference.
“I’ve learned how much we can really make a difference in
people’s lives,” she said. “The small things really count. I’ve been
touched by all the small things here at Camp Williams, and I hope to
touch people’s lives back at school.”
A delegate from Valley High in Orderville, Cheyenne C.,
explained what she will take away from Freedom Academy.
“Freedom Academy has opened my eyes to real Army life,” she
said. “I now understand how much Servicemen and women do for
our country. We wouldn’t live and enjoy our everyday lives without
their service. When I leave I will have a greater appreciation for our
fl ag.”
The Utah National Guard’s Honorary Colonels Corps has
sponsored Freedom Academy since 1961, and they are the driving
force behind it. Freedom Academy is unique to Utah and is one of The
Adjutant General’s programs. Utah’s Army and Air National Guard
both work together to supply necessary personnel and resources to
support the program. Funding is also supplemented by contributions
from local businesses like Associated Foods which donated $5,000 in
food products this year.