W.C. Abney fifth grader Cole Basham took the first step to becoming one of the area’s next great leaders recently by attending the 2008 Junior National Young Leadership Conference in Washington D.C.

The trip, Cole said, held a packed six day agenda that included trips to Harper’s Ferry, West Va., the Newseum, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, Korean War Memorial, American History Museum and the Maryland Science Center.

While on the trip, Cole said he also garnered additional honors.

“We all had to write impromptu essays when we first arrived and from those they selected 10 out of 285 to visit the White House,” he said. “I was selected and got to see inside the Oval Office. The President wasn’t there, but he left a video message and welcomed each one of us by name.”

During the conference, Cole said he learned about past leaders and why leadership skills are important. He said the group also learned from some of the mistakes made by past leaders.

The best part fo the trip, Cole said, was being in the nation’s capital so close to the election and meeting friends he plans to visit.

Initially, Cole said he thought his nomination for the program was a mistake.

“I thought hey had the wrong person, but I was also extremely excited and anxious to see what would happen when I went,” he said. “The invitation was very impressive and my parents were so excited for me being nominated and have the opportunity.”

The program helps scholars develop and sharpen their leadership skills by examining the leaders of the past and empowering them to make a positive social impact in their community and the world, according to the Web site for the JrNYLC, www.cylc.org.

During the trip, Cole said he roomed with students from North Carolina, Missouri and Kansas.