North Hills students join 350 peers at Woodland Hills Student Summit

Students from North Hills High School recently participated in the 7th annual Woodland Hills Student Summit at Penn State Greater Allegheny. The summit brought together over 350 students from more than 25 high schools across western Pennsylvania to engage in meaningful conversations about issues that impact young people today.

Throughout the day, students took part in a series of student-led discussion sessions designed to elevate youth voices and encourage collaboration across school communities. Topics included mental health, social media influence, human rights, racial and social equity, and creating positive change within schools and communities.

Freshman Assia Charkoui said, "It was great meeting new people from other schools and learning about various topics. I learned a lot and can’t wait to be a leader next year."

Riley Simmons, also a freshman, added, “The summit was very fun and nice to hear about the topics. I loved that I was able to bond with others about our experiences with our daily lives and differences.”

The Woodland Hills Student Summit is unique because it is driven by students themselves. Student leaders design the discussion topics, facilitate conversations, and guide activities that allow participants to share perspectives and learn from one another. The experience provides a powerful opportunity for students from urban, suburban, and rural districts to connect and explore ways they can be leaders in their schools and communities.

North Hills students returned from the summit inspired by the conversations they had and the connections they made with peers from across the region. The experience reinforced the importance of empathy, understanding, and collaboration, values that align closely with the district’s ongoing commitment to building a positive and inclusive school community.

Hannah Billing, a junior, shared, "A lot of schools go through the same issues. It’s the same city, but on different sides of the bridge, or river. It’s cool to share ideas. Everyone can take away a sense of community and belonging. We’re all at different schools, ethnicities and backgrounds, but in this city, everyone belongs."