Empowered to Lead: 5th Annual YES Conference Unites Over 200 Students for a Day of Purpose and Service

A quiet college campus turned into a buzzing hub of energy and purpose on Tuesday, October 21, as more than 200 high school students gathered at Shenandoah University’s Halpin-Harrison Hall for the 5th Annual YES Conference (Youth Empowered for Success). Hosted by Reaching Out Now, the conference welcomed juniors and seniors from Warren County Public Schools and Winchester City Public Schools to a day filled with leadership development, motivational talks, and hands-on community service— all built around this year’s empowering theme: “Be the Change. Lead Well.”

Kendallee Walker, daughter of Samantha Barber. Photos courtesy of ToyBox.

“We’re here to remind students that they can do hard things,” said Samantha Barber, Founder and Executive Director of Reaching Out Now. “This event started in 2021 with just 15 students. Today, we have more than 170 students participating directly, plus 44 Shenandoah University baseball players supporting throughout the day. It shows that small beginnings can lead to big impact.”

Founder and Executive Director of Reaching Out Now, Samantha Barber.

A Day of Leadership, Connection, and Service

The morning kicked off with breakfast and a warm welcome, setting the tone for a full schedule of interactive workshops, networking, and community engagement. Breakout sessions explored key topics like goal-setting, decision-making, resilience, and leadership beyond the classroom.

This year’s inspiring speaker lineup included:

• Bill Hall, a respected athletic director and former head football coach, known for building servant-leadership cultures in sports.
• Chelsea Hester, founder of Project MyVibe and Shenandoah University business executive-in-residence, who led a dynamic session in the Hive Collaboratorium.
• Taylor Holland, a third-generation entrepreneur, speaking on legacy and vision.
• James Imoh, U.S. Army veteran and financial advisor, who emphasized discipline, service, and leadership.
• Raz Patel, actress and mental health advocate, who brought personal insight on strength, reinvention, and bold living.

Packing Meals, Spreading Hope

A highlight of the afternoon was a large-scale service project in partnership with Meals of Hope, where students worked side-by-side with members of the Shenandoah University baseball team to pack an incredible 19,400 meals for local families in need.

Students prepare food for outreach as part of hands-on leadership.

Volunteers arrived early—some at 8:00 a.m.—to unload over 3600 pounds of food across five pallets. Inside Shingleton Hall gym, students assembled 79 boxes containing rice casserole meal kits made up of rice, vegetables, and red peas—each bag feeding a family of six. Remaining food products were donated to the Warren County Department of Social Services and the Winchester Rescue Mission.

All told, the project will provide over 19,000 meals to students and families served by Warren County Public Schools, Winchester City, and Frederick County as well as local churches in time for the holidays.

“It’s leadership in action,” Barber explained. “It’s one thing to talk about change, but when these students roll up their sleeves and pack meals together, they’re living that change. They’re giving back, making a tangible difference.”

A second service project ran concurrently: students wrote personalized cards of encouragement to cancer patients through a partnership with Valley Health, offering words of strength and support to those undergoing treatment.

A Model of Community Collaboration

The success of the YES Conference rests on a strong foundation of partnerships, with active involvement from schools, local agencies, and volunteers. Barber emphasized the deep collaboration behind the scenes: “This is an ‘us’ thing,” she said. “Shenandoah University, the baseball team led by Coach Kevin Anderson, school leaders, parents, chaperones, and our community partners all helped make this happen. That kind of trust—from schools literally transporting students and providing staff to support the day—is what makes this special.”

Among the many community leaders and school staff present were Mark Moseley, Taketia Smith, Marc Timmons, Todd Miller, Jessica Allen, Krista Beahm, Tucker Brown, Sheriff Lenny Millholland from Frederick County, Krista Beahm from the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, and Tiffany Walker from Parks & Recreation—all showing up in support of youth leadership and growth.

Samantha Barber among the people who support the RON vision.

“When students see so many adults show up for them, it matters,” Barber added. “It shows them they’re not alone, that this community believes in their potential.”

As the conference wrapped up, students walked away with more than just a meal packed or a card written. They left with new perspectives, stronger confidence, and a deeper understanding of what it means to lead—not just someday, but right now. For Reaching Out Now, that’s the heart of the mission: to empower youth to see their value, embrace their voice, and take the first step toward making an impact—no matter how small it may seem.