Liberty High School proudly welcomed Ohio Lieutenant Governor James Tressel on Thursday morning for a special celebration marking the completion of the Tressel Institute for Leadership and Teamwork (TILT) Personal Leadership Program.
The event started with Lt. Governor Tressel addressing grades 9–12 students. Drawing from his extensive experience in education, athletics, and public service, Tressel shared personal stories and reflections on the values that have guided his life: gratitude, excellence, hope, love, and selflessness. His inspiring message emphasized the power of character-driven leadership and left a lasting impact on the student body.
Tressel shared a meaningful quote with students, originally penned by Edward Everett Hale—a poem he once passed along to his own teams and now offers as a message to future leaders on the journey to success:
“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”
Liberty High School is one of just two area schools selected to participate in the prestigious TILT initiative, which empowers students through hands-on leadership development rooted in personal growth and community engagement. Throughout the semester, students completed a variety of workshops, seminars, and real-world projects, earning digital badges in areas such as effective communication, decision-making, teamwork, and empathy.
A standout feature of the program was the direct involvement of Youngstown State University students and staff, who volunteered their time to mentor Liberty students. This peer-to-peer collaboration offered high schoolers the chance to learn from relatable college role models and practice leadership in real time.
Each participating student received a certificate of completion in recognition of their hard work, dedication, and growth throughout the program.
