Fort Bend Lifestyles and Homes Magazine Nov 2009: Campus Spotlight - Nicholas Ilagan, Sixth-grader Ready to Lead the Way

By Cindy Ziervogel

Although Nicholas Ilagan is only 11, he has the poise and personality of someone much older. Especially when you compare him to his sixth-grade peers who typically like to follow the pack. Nicholas wants to lead. And he’s good at it.

Nicholas already has full-size leadership aspirations. In the long term he plans to be the CEO of a law firm but for now he first has his eye on the 2011 position of eighth-grade president at First Colony Middle School. With two years to hone his campaign platform this mature leader is sure to be a shoe in.

Over the summer, Nicholas attended the five-day Lone Star Leadership Academy after being nominated by his Settlers Way Elementary School fifth-grade teachers, Kimberly Taylor and Janet Cook. He even has a hunch as to why they nominated him, the first student Taylor has nominated in 10 years of teaching.

“I like helping people and it works,” said Nicholas. “Other kids usually listen to me. Last year, I was good at resolving conflicts at recess. ”

All around, Nicholas seems to be a walking billboard for leadership. His teachers sure noticed.

“Nicholas was a student who I could frequently count on to help others. He has the initiative to want the best for himself and those around him. He ’s always setting a good example and striving for his best,” said Taylor.

Besides attending the Lone Star Leadership Academy, Nicholas won an autographed Astros baseball at the YMCA summer camp. He came in first place in the Read Around the Bases program. Nicholas read 14 books in six weeks. Adventure, fiction books are his favorite, he said, especially if they involve situations that happen at school.

Nicholas is the son of Joseph and Venus Ilagan and big brother to TJ, age 5. According to Venus, being nominated for the leadership camp was such an honor for her son she knew that attending the camp would have been an opportunity too good for him to pass up.

demonstrate leadership ability.

Lone Star Leadership Academy is run by Education in Action, a nonprofit organization that sponsors learning programs to empower young Texans to be informed and active leaders in their communities.

It was a busy five days for the students. Career speakers gave the students an opportunity to learn about a variety of careers related to science, history and the environment. Among all the activities, they managed to squeeze in field trips to the Cattle Raisers Museum, Amon Carter Museum and Fort Worth Stockyards. They also visited the Dallas World Aquarium, Texas Civil War Museum and Nicholas ’ favorite, Group Dynamix, where the group participated in team building activities.

They often worked in groups, learning how to have productive discussions. They discussed what they learned, completed problem solving and decision-making simulations, exercised creativity and practiced presentation skills. The groups were also an opportunity to form friendships.

Although Nicholas says he doesn’t get nervous speaking in front of a group, he is taking a speech and theater class this year as a school elective.

“I like it,” he said. Although he probably doesn’t need as much help with public speaking as most kids his age, he said he enjoys learning how to speak in front of a group. And as a future school politician and then lawyer and CEO, he ’s going to need the extra practice.

Taylor believes Nicholas is already on his way to success. “I think that Nicholas will do amazing things in his life. I can’t wait to see what he chooses as a career path, but I know whatever he chooses he will be
very successful.”