Published: October 06, 2008 01:04 am      

LEADERSHIP: School hopes to raise funds to help junior with trip to NYC

A student at the Lockport Opportunity Project has been chosen to be among only 500 nationwide to participate in a special leadership program next summer.

Samantha Francoforte, a junior at LOP, was selected to participate in the “People to People” leadership summit after being nominated by one of her teachers.

The summit will be held at Columbia University in New York City,

Ten students from each of the 50 states were chosen for the program.

Teacher Heather Reid, who nominated Francoforte, remembers precisely when she realized Francoforte was unique.

LOP students go out into the community once a week to do projects, and Reid was in charge of horticulture.

Francoforte immediately took to the design and landscaping aspects.

“Sam had joined my group, and I said to her, ‘Oh, you’re going to be my teaching assistant,’ ” Reid said. “She took right over and started working with the kids. ... She was phenomenal with those kids.”

Francoforte said she enjoyed taking the lead.

“It was exciting,” she said.

Her interest in design has influenced her dreams for the future. She hopes to go to college and become an interior designer.

“It’s amazing how far she’s come from when she first came here,” Reid said.

Reid said when she received a letter from People to People asking for nominations, she immediately thought of Francoforte.

She filled out the application and mailed it away. Several weeks later, Francoforte received a letter saying she’d been selected.

“I was kind of surprised,” she said.

She will leave for the summit in the summer — her first trip to New York City.

During the summit, Francoforte and other students will attend workshops, presentations and discussions about leadership. They will meet with college admissions officers and have the opportunity to tour several area universities.

The trip will cost money, however, and now the students and staff at LOP are trying to find ways to raise funds for Francoforte.

Reid said their goal is to raise about $4,000.

They’ve talked about doing a fundraising volleyball game with students and teachers, and are sending out letters to local businesses to seek possible donations.

“We have some ideas,” Reid said.

Francoforte said the school has been very supportive of her.

“(The students) are excited for me,” she said, laughing. “They’re like, ‘Oh, well you deserve it.’ ”