More than 40 Suffolk County high schools were represented at the latest Section XI Student Leadership Conference, an event designed to empower student-athletes through education, mentorship, and shared experiences.
The conference featured an impressive lineup of speakers spanning professional sports, the military, education, and college recruiting. Among the guest presenters was Long Island native Logan O’Hoppe, catcher for the Los Angeles Angels. O’Hoppe spoke about leadership, perseverance, and balancing high-level athletics with personal growth.
Also addressing the group were former New York Islanders defenseman Steve Webb, who shared lessons from his NHL career; retired Navy SEAL Chris Wyllie; Andrew Cohen of Get Recruited; Health/PE teacher Hannah Lorenzen; and guidance counselor Leah Jansen.
Student leadership was also highlighted through participation from NYSPHSAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee leaders Charlie Carter (Mattituck) and Bayla Goldberg (Smithtown East), as well as athletic directors, coaches, and senior student-athletes from across Section XI.
Conference sessions focused on key themes impacting today’s student-athletes, including mental health awareness, effective communication, sportsmanship, school pride, time management, and the college recruiting process.
By bringing together voices from professional sports, education, and student leadership, the Section XI Student Leadership Conference once again reinforced the importance of developing well-rounded athletes who lead with integrity—both on and off the field.
