Brooksville Teen Nominated for Prestigious National Security Forum

Emilyn Newton, a freshman at Nature Coast Technical High School in Brooksville, won a nomination to the National Youth Leadership Forum on National Security, an intensive eight-day summer program in Washington, D.C., that includes leadership workshops, keynote speakers, crisis simulations and tours of sites such as the U.S. Capitol and the Pentagon. Newton is one of about 200 students chosen for the forum and would travel to the capital in summer 2026.

The NYLF program aims to prepare students for higher education and future careers. "The [NYLF] was founded with the vision of preparing high school students for college and future careers." Newton first attended a version of the program aimed at middle school students in 2024 and said she is eager to return. "I am very interested in this kind of stuff," Newton said. "It is definitely something that is going to be fun to do and be fun to see."

School leaders and nominators cited Newton's academic excellence and leadership in recommending her for the forum. She has been active in extracurricular activities and local initiatives that contributed to her selection, though the prospect of travel and program fees has prompted her family to seek financial support. The family has set a fundraising goal in the range of $6,000 to $6,500 and launched a GoFundMe titled "Donate to Send Emilyn to the JNYLC in DC," with other donation options available through direct contact with her family.

Local access to enrichment programs like NYLF has broader community and public health implications. Participation in leadership and career-preparation programs supports youth mental health, social connectedness and academic aspiration, while exposure to national security and emergency-response training can inform future workforce development in areas that intersect with public safety and health preparedness. When cost becomes a barrier, those benefits may be distributed unevenly, leaving lower-income students in Hernando County with fewer opportunities to build networks or consider pathways into public service careers.

Community groups, local philanthropists and school officials can play a role in addressing those gaps by creating scholarship funds or coordinating sponsorship drives. For residents interested in supporting Newton, search her GoFundMe by title "Donate to Send Emilyn to the JNYLC in DC" or contact the family for other donation methods. Helping students like Newton attend immersive programs can strengthen both individual prospects and the county's pipeline of civic-minded, prepared young adults.