Junior Presenter ‘Seminars for a Cause’ Program
Free leadership opportunity for students.
“The students who participate in our Junior Presenter Seminars for a Cause series make such a positive impact on our greater community. Over the years, students have presented on subjects from Rube Goldberg Machines to Bird Identification to Norse Mythology to How to Foster Kittens. Through their hard work, they’ve raised thousands of dollars over the years for amazing causes. Every year, we look forward to seeing what our amazing students do to help the world!” ~ Dr. Kirsten
Enrollment
Available
***This is a free leadership opportunity for Athena's students. Our Junior Presenters share their presentation in a live webinar for charity. Current students, Junior Presenter applications typically open in April in the Social Center (linked in Step 2 below)!***
Step 1: Register Your Student
Step 2: Enroll Your Registered Student
| Content Levels | Grades 5-6 • Upper Elementary Grades 6-7 • Middle School Grades 7-8 • Junior High Grades 9-10 • Lower High School Grades 11-12 • Upper High School |
| Additional Components | Leadership Opportunities |
Our Junior Presenters are students who are motivated to share their knowledge and help others at the same time! Our Junior Presenters research their topic of choice* and create a 50-60 minute presentation to present in a live webinar that mimics our courses to raise funds for the charity of their choice!*
Junior Presenters take charge of their seminar and the events surrounding the seminar by communicating with teacher moderators and attendees, creating their own presentation and materials, and selecting the charity they would like to contribute to (with some parent supervision/assistance as needed).
The application process for the upcoming Junior Presenter Seminars for a Cause Series begins in early April. Every Junior Presenter will present their presentation once during the subsequent summer months (June or July).
Please note: Students who would like to partner with other Athena’s students are welcome to do so. Please be sure to agree on the topic, the charity, and when to fill out the application form. Each member of the partnership or group should fill out the application form.
Skills Junior Presenters practice throughout the program:
- Executive functioning (including making and sticking to a schedule).*
- Professional communication.
- Research.
- Presentation creation.*
- Public speaking (in a live webinar with voice & chat only–no video).
- Computer skills (e.g., through creating an advertisement for their presentation).*
- Helping others learn more about their topic.*
- Helping others by raising funds for their charity of choice. *
- And more!
*Please note that the topic, presentation, charity of choice, etc., must be approved by Athena’s administration. Junior Presenters work with their parents or a trusted adult and their Athena’s teacher moderator to help them achieve their goals.
To view current and/or past presentations (depending on the time of year) and view the current total funds raised for charity, visit this webpage: https://athenasacademy.com/about-us/junior-presenters/
We look forward to seeing more amazing presentations very soon!
What to expect as a Junior Presenter–presenters will:
- Research their chosen topic.
- Create a 50-minute presentation.
- Create an advertisement and promote the presentation.
- Choose a charity to support.
- Present the 50-minute presentation to those who sign up for the seminar webinar.
- Make a difference in the world!
Please note:
- The topic, presentation, charity of choice, etc. must be approved by Athena’s administration.
- Students must work with their Athena’s teacher moderator to schedule a day and time to present during the summer months.
- Although this leadership opportunity is student-led, Junior Presenters work with their parents or a trusted adult and their Athena’s teacher moderator to help them achieve their goals.
Before considering this opportunity, students should:
- Be at least 9 years of age.
- Have taken at least one 16- or 32-week course, or multiple 8-week courses, at Athena’s. (A single 8-week course does not qualify a student to continue.)
- Go through the Junior Presenter application process. (Applications usually open early April for the subsequent summer’s Junior Presenter series.)
- Have the motivation to create a 50-minute presentation and present it to others! (This presentation should be done without AI and without plagiarism.)
- Have the knowledge and the ability to research independently (or with minimal parental assistance) about a topic of the student’s choice.*
- Be supported by a parent or trusted adult at home.
*Please note that the topic, presentation, charity of choice, etc. must be approved by Athena’s administration.