This summer, King student Tucker Pedersen ’22 was selected to join the first-ever Global Citizens Initiative LEAD Challenge. The virtual summit, which took place from July 26-31, brought together secondary school students from all over the world to learn about leadership, ethics, advocacy, and design thinking. Tucker’s participation in the challenge qualified King School, a member of the Global Citizens Initiative, to become one of 30 schools worldwide to be represented at the summit. 

This year’s cohort included 36 students who represented 28 languages, 14 countries, and 30 cultural heritages. “I was incredibly fortunate in my freshman year to have inspiring teachers who made me realize I had great talent in writing, public speaking, and foreign language,” said Tucker, who was one of the few students selected to participate from the United States. “My excitement about learning continues as I have yet another year of fantastic teachers who are guiding me as I further develop the skills to excel as a student advocate,” he shared.  

King History Faculty Lindsey Rossler noticed Tucker’s potential in the classroom and encouraged him to apply for the challenge. “The LEAD Challenge was an excellent fit for Tucker because of his strong work ethic and intellectual curiosity, which has been evident since he entered the Upper School,” she stated. Tucker also pursued a history internship at the Children’s Learning Center last school year, an experience that further qualified him for GCI’s LEAD Challenge during the competitive selection process. 

GCI’s mission is to empower young global citizens from all sectors of society to be lifelong leaders of positive change in their communities. The six-day program explored thought-provoking ideas that challenged the participants to think critically and design solutions to a variety of global issues. “I learned how to become a better leader and how to inspire others to make a change. I want to better the global community and gain a new perspective on global relations by developing impactful environmental policies,” said Tucker. 

Tucker is now a GCI alumnus, joining a community of leaders committed to change that transcends social, economic, and political boundaries worldwide.