CITRS Celebrates 16th Annual Lehigh Valley Youth Leadership & Ethics Conference

CITRS welcomed eighth- and eleventh-grade students and educators to DeSales University on October 20 and 21, 2026, for the 16th Annual Lehigh Valley Youth Leadership & Ethics Conference.

For 16 years, the conference has brought students from Lehigh Valley schools together to explore leadership, character, teamwork, communication, and ethical decision-making. Offered at no cost to participating schools, the conference encourages students to examine their own decisions, consider different perspectives, and recognize the relationship between character and leadership.

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What Participants Had to Say

Among those who completed the conference surveys, 97.5% of presentation ratings were Excellent or Good, and overall satisfaction averaged 9.0 out of 10.

An eighth-grade respondent shared:

This is such a valuable and rewarding experience for our students! They have the opportunity to meet and connect with other 8th graders from different schools while developing important communication and leadership skills.

An eleventh-grade student reflected:

I feel like i can change important aspects of my life because of this event.

Participants also suggested more student discussions, hands-on activities, and opportunities to apply leadership and ethical decision-making to real-life situations. Their feedback will help shape future conferences.

Looking Ahead to 2027

The 17th Annual Lehigh Valley Youth Leadership & Ethics Conference will take place Thursday, October 21, 2027, at DeSales University, bringing eighth- and eleventh-grade students together for a single conference day.

We are grateful for our longstanding partnership with DeSales University, whose generosity and commitment to the Lehigh Valley have helped make this conference possible year after year. We also appreciate the schools and educators who continue to bring their students, the presenters who share their knowledge and experiences, and the individuals and organizations whose support has sustained this work.

Community support helps cover the costs of bringing experienced presenters and meaningful learning experiences to students at no charge to their schools.

Sixteen years of bringing young people together is worth celebrating. As we prepare for 2027, we look forward to continuing these relationships and welcoming others who share our commitment to developing young people of character.

Interested in supporting the 2027 conference? We would welcome the opportunity to connect. Contact CITRS to learn more.