COEUR d’ALENE — These leaders of tomorrow are applying what they’ve learned today.

Three local high school students — Noah Childress, Kyra Ellsworth and Callahan Kuhlmann — recently attended the Ronald Reagan Great American Leadership Program in Malibu, Calif., presented by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, a nonprofit that aims to advance the former president’s legacy and principles. 

During the four-day program, students participated in educational sessions at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum and stayed in the dorms at Pepperdine University. 

For Childress, a sophomore at Lake City High School, the program offered some of the most exciting and inspiring moments of his life so far. He said he enjoyed connecting with students from across the country and around the world, as well as learning about Ronald Reagan in a unique setting. 

“He’s one of the greatest presidents that we’ve had, in my opinion,” Childress said. “We learned about how he became a leader and what he believed.” 

Childress has long been interested in politics and is active in the student government at Lake City High School. He said he’ll apply what he learned about leadership during the coming school year, such as the importance of listening to different perspectives and ideas. 

“I want everyone’s voice to be heard,” he said. “I also learned that sometimes you’ve got to keep pushing through hard times. A leader needs to show perseverance.” 

Kuhlmann, a sophomore at Coeur d’Alene High School, said she was glad to pick up skills for leading discussions and handling disagreements. 

“A lot of that is involved in sports and in the classroom,” she said. 

During the program, Ellsworth said she learned about how people can change their communities for the better through public service and about what it takes to become a leader. 

“You have to put in effort to be a leader,” she said. “It doesn’t just come to you.” 

The program showed the importance of building teams that include people with diverse skills and ideas. 

“I learned you have to surround yourself with people whose strengths are your weaknesses and you have to accept that you’re not perfect,” she said. “When you build a good team, you can be a great leader.” 

Ellsworth said she’s already applying lessons about self-worth to her own life. 

“I feel like I really learned how to value myself and not to compare myself to others,” she said. 

Lindy Ellsworth, Kyra’s mom, said she was excited to see her daughter participate in the leadership program and proud that she was selected. 

“She took her role seriously and really tried her best,” Lindy Ellsworth said.