Published: November 17, 2008 09:47 am      

Del Quest strengthens students

From Wednesday to Friday, 24 Del City juniors took an adventure in leadership by participating in Del Quest 2008.

These students were emerged in a program that enhanced their personal growth as leaders. They witnessing high speed police chases, saw how an air Force base works and, for some, faced one of their greatest fears...public speaking.

Del Quest is for juniors living in or educated in the Del City area. For seven years, this program has been pairing selected juniors with the people and departments in Del City that help the city to function.

“This year’s class is the best ever,” said Connie Myrick, chairwoman of the Del Quest committee. “They connected and worked with each other and developed into team leaders.”

Their adventure kicked off Wednesday at 4 p.m. with a brief orientation. During this time, students played a game to help them learn each other’s names and a little about themselves while parents had their questions answered by Del Quest committee members.

The students were quickly bussed to the Raider Room at Rose State College to participate in the mentor banquet. The challenge for the evening was for the students and mentors to become acquainted. Before dinner was served, students and mentors at each table answered a round of questions about themselves.

At the banquet, Del Quest participants were also introduced to their host families. Five families opened their homes for the students. Committee members made it a point to separate students who were from the same schools or who were involved in the same activities so more students could form bonds.

The group had an early start Thursday at the police training center. Here, they saw the rigorous training that police officers complete in order to safely maintain order on the roads. Each participant that chose to also had to the opportunity to jump in a police car and play passenger in a simulated high speed chase.

After the training center, students headed to the Del City Fire Department where fire fighters cooked hot dogs for lunch.

A tour of Tinker Air Force Base was also on the agenda for the day. Students were met by Col. Patricia D. Hoffman, commander of the 552nd Air Control Wing. They participated in simulators and were able to accompany Hoffman on a plane.

Students returned to the community center where they were coached on networking and working a room. These skills were to come into play quickly at Business After Hours at Arvest Bank. Here community leaders, business leaders and Del Quest participants chatted and exchanged business cards while enjoying subs from Jersey Mike’s. At this event, students also were asked to introduce their mentor. Both nervous and confident students took microphone to tell a bit about the person they had shared a meal with the evening before to the crowd in the bank lobby.

“Business After Hours was great,” Myrick commented. “A lot of community leaders were there.”

Back at the Candlewood Chapel at Ford Funeral Services, students listened to the words of Pastor Lawrence Neisent from Destiny Christian Center before returning to their host families.

A team breakfast was the first item of the day on Friday. After the meal, students made a strip to the Midwest Regional Hospital where they learned about the medical industry.

Their final destination with Del Quest was the state capitol. Here, students simulated mock legislation. The week’s graduation ceremony also took place at the capitol.

At graduation, one student was named received the Fred Joiner Leadership Award and Scholarship. This student was selected by his/her peers as showing outstanding leadership qualities throughout the program. He/She received a $500 scholarship.

Those participating in the program include Victoria (Tori) Atkinson, Stephen Barton, Gregory Bundy, Josiah Campbell, Miranda Cartledge, Amy Conrad, Martin Enselmann , Jamella Essa, Tiffany Jones, Sara Kim, Tiara Lewis, Ashley Linley, Melissa Mundy, Bethany Ray, Ashley Marie Rivera, Katie Rotrock, Zachary Sanders, Sarah Schiete, Michael Tinker, Sarah Tinker, Brenton Walden Phillips, Shelbi Watson, Aletha Wilson and Olivia Yott.