✨ Help Elijah Attend the Junior National Young Leaders Conference! ✨

Hi everyone! My name is Katelyn Markus, and I’m creating this fundraiser on behalf of my little brother Elijah, who has been officially nominated to attend the Junior National Young Leaders Conference (JrNYLC) in Summer 2026.

This is an incredible honor — only a select group of middle-school students from across the country are chosen each year, based on academic excellence, leadership potential, and character. Elijah was nominated by his educator, Mr. Joseph Curtin, who saw in him the qualities of a true young leader.

When our family opened the nomination letter, Elijah’s face lit up. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him — something that could truly shape the rest of his academic journey and future.

What is JrNYLC?

The Junior National Young Leaders Conference is a nationally recognized leadership program hosted in cities like Washington, D.C., Boston, Atlanta, and San Francisco. Students participate in:

✔ Interactive workshops

✔ Leadership simulations and group projects

✔ Historical site visits (such as the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, and Freedom Trail)

✔ Voices of Change project, where students design real-world action plans to create positive change in their schools and communities

Elijah will get hands-on experience with teamwork, critical thinking, decision-making, conflict resolution, and public speaking — skills that will not only help him in school, but throughout his entire life.

The program truly immerses students in what it means to be a leader — by learning from the past, tackling real issues, and developing confidence and purpose along the way.

Why We’re Asking for Help

The cost of attending JrNYLC is around $3,500, which covers program tuition, housing, activities, and supervision.

We are raising $4,000 total to help with:

Program tuition

Travel costs

Meals and basic necessities

A little extra for Elijah to shop for anything he needs during the trip

Our family wants Elijah to experience this without financial stress standing in the way. We truly believe he deserves this chance — and we are incredibly proud of the hard work that earned him this nomination.

How You Can Help

Any amount makes a difference.

Whether it’s $5, $20, or simply sharing this fundraiser, your support means the world to our family — and especially to Elijah.

This opportunity could change his life. We want him to see that when you work hard, dream big, and stay kind, amazing things can happen.

Thank you all so much for helping us make this possible for him.

From the bottom of our hearts — thank you.

— Katelyn Markus & Family