Over the summer, four outstanding students from Brownwood ISD attended 2025 Lone Star Leadership Academy camps. These students, who were 6th graders at Coggin Elementary last year and are now 7th graders at Brownwood Middle School, were nominated and participated in one of the weeklong leadership camps offered through Education in Action.

Students representing Brownwood ISD:

• Sophia Ongteco (Dallas/Fort Worth Program)

• Mattison King (Dallas/Fort Worth Program)

• Skylynn Bessent (Houston/Galveston Program)

• Charlotte Myers (Houston/Galveston Program)

These four were among 713 outstanding 3rd–8th graders from across Texas who participated in one of the 2025 Lone Star Leadership Academy summer camps.

Each student was nominated by an educator for the Lone Star Leader Award based on leadership ability, academic success, and school/community involvement. In addition to a certificate of recognition, each nominee was invited to join other outstanding Lone Star Leader nominees from across Texas on a Lone Star Leadership Academy summer camp.

The participants traveled to Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin/San Antonio, or Houston/Galveston for weeklong, overnight camps. They developed leadership skills, built friendships, and experienced Texas first-hand at sites including the Texas State Capitol, Johnson Space Center at NASA, The Alamo, the Fort Worth Stockyards, Moody Gardens, and more. In addition, professionals at sites visited introduced students to a wide variety of careers.

“In just one week, we see students grow tremendously in confidence and leadership,” said Jennifer Pasteur, Executive Director of Education in Action. “Time and again, we see them return home and put those skills into action—in their schools, organizations, or communities.”

Educators are invited to nominate their outstanding 3rd–8th graders for the 2026 Lone Star Leader Award and Leadership Academy at www.educationinaction.org/nominate.