North Royalton Middle School welcomed student leaders from 11 area middle schools for its annual Leadership Conference on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. The event brought students together for a day focused on developing leadership skills, building positive relationships and discovering how they can make a difference in their schools and communities.
This year's conference featured internationally recognized motivational speaker Keith Hawkins, who presented his message, “Better Than Good.”
Hawkins drew on his personal experiences growing up in a challenging environment in Los Angeles to inspire young people to recognize their potential and overcome obstacles. Despite facing significant hardships during his childhood, Hawkins credits leadership and education with helping him find his voice, develop positive habits and create opportunities for himself and others.
Today, Hawkins speaks to more than 400,000 students, parents, educators, leaders and business professionals annually. He has addressed the United Nations Global Summit on behalf of America's youth and is featured in the national communication textbook Between One and Many. He holds a bachelor's degree in organizational communication with a minor in psychology.
Students from Coventry, Berea-Midpark, Harmon, Brunswick, Rocky River, Nordonia, Mayfield, Roxboro, Bay Village, Hillside and Streetsboro middle schools joined North Royalton Middle School students for the conference.
The annual event provided an opportunity for students from different school districts to connect, exchange ideas and strengthen the skills needed to become effective leaders.
The conference also supported North Royalton City Schools' Portrait of a Bear initiative, particularly the competencies of Leadership, Communication and Empathy. Through opportunities to connect with peers, exchange ideas and learn from Hawkins' experiences, students strengthened their ability to lead with purpose, communicate effectively and build positive relationships that can make a difference in their schools and communities.