Kent Police Student Board highlights annual Game of Life conference for middle- and high-school students

Organizers of the Kent Police Student Board said the annual "Game of Life" conference brings teams from Kent middle and high schools together for a day of teen health and wellness workshops, keynote talks and project planning.

"I've been doing this job for 23 years and every year it's always exciting to see the students from Kent come and experience the game of life," said Staff member, Kent Police. "Middle and senior high schools from Kent bring teams of students to come and join us every year at the conference. And really the focus is on teen health and wellness. Students will come, they hear a keynote speaker, they go to breakout workshops, and then they play some games in between. And then the teams get back together again to plan a project to implement in their schools."

The event is presented by the Kent Police Student Board and is intended to combine health and wellness education with leadership and decision-making practice. Student participants described the board as a way to connect with peers and their community and to practice public speaking and project work.

"My experience with Kent Police student board has been pretty amazing. In my opinion, it's a great way to kinda, like, connect with your community and to find people, like, similar to your age that also, like, have gone through similar experiences," said Student, Kent Police Student Board, who said they have participated for six years. "It's kinda nice because I've done so many different projects. This is my 3rd game of life."

Parents and other volunteers said they have observed long-term benefits for youth who take part. "Both of my boys were members of the Kent Police Student Board, all the way back starting in 2009. So this is my 15th game of life," said Parent/Volunteer. "The skills that they learned, the confidence, the decision making, the leadership skills ... these are skills that they have taken with them."

Speakers and organizers described the student board as open to students in grades 7 through 12 and said many members join in middle school and continue through senior year. One speaker urged students interested in joining to visit kentwah.gov/police for information about the student board and to contact school counselors or leadership teachers to arrange team participation. Organizers also encouraged prospective members to contact a staff person named Stacey, who was mentioned in the remarks as a point of contact (no last name given).

Logistics mentioned by speakers include that the youth board meets about every two weeks on Wednesdays and that the conference typically provides two days off school for participating students. Organizers said focusing this year's format on Kent students allowed for a more intimate, targeted program and they encouraged greater representation from Kent middle and high schools in future years.

Remarks at the event mixed personal experience, recruitment pitches and reminders about how to join and participate; no formal votes or policy actions were recorded in the transcript of these remarks.