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Sun City Ed-Tech Conference 2026 · Featured Program

Strive Now
Student Leadership Academy

A half-day CTE conference experience designed exclusively for area secondary high school students — running concurrently with the Sun City Ed-Tech Conference on the morning of October 22, 2026 at the Starlight Event Center in El Paso, TX.

📅 October 22, 2026
🕗 Morning Sessions
🎓 High School Students
📍 Starlight Event Center
👥 53 Students · 3 Sessions
⚡ Register for the Conference

About the Academy

In the Age of AI, doing more has never been easier. But the leaders who stand out aren't the ones who do the most — they're the ones who do the right things. That takes critical thinking and confident leadership, not just fast outcomes.

Over three interactive 45-minute sessions, area high school students learn to think clearly, decide well, and act on what matters as future community leaders — using the P.A.U.S.E. critical thinking framework developed by Strive Now. Students leave with a practical decision-making tool they can use the moment they walk out.

The P.A.U.S.E. Critical Thinking Framework

P
Presence
Think before you react. A steady mind sees clearly; a rushed one just moves fast.
A
Awareness
Question the first answer, even when it comes fast. Catch your bias before it becomes a decision.
U
Understand People
Think past your own view. Weigh who a decision affects and what they see.
S
Shape Culture
Think in systems, not moments. What you allow becomes the standard.
E
Execute with Intention
Do the right things on purpose, not more things on autopilot.

Academy Agenda

Three connected, scenario-based, interactive, application-driven workshop sessions facilitated by 2–3 experienced Strive Now instructors.

Session 1
45 Minutes

Think Sharp

Critical Thinking for Teen Leaders

Everyone can do more, faster, now — so the real edge belongs to the clear thinker. Students learn the first two moves of P.A.U.S.E.: get present before they react, and question the first answer instead of accepting it.

Session 2
45 Minutes

Do the Right Things

Critical Thinking in Practice

Students practice thinking past their own view. They weigh who a decision affects and read the culture and systems around them — learning to tell the difference between doing more and doing what matters.

Session 3
45 Minutes

Lead the Decision

From Thinker to Executor

Students run the full P.A.U.S.E. process through a real-world decision-making challenge, making a clear, values-based call as a future community leader — leaving with a repeatable tool that turns sharp thinking into strong execution.

What's Included

Facilitation led by 2–3 experienced Strive Now instructors
The P.A.U.S.E. critical thinking & leadership framework, tailored for teens
A hands-on decision-making challenge applied as future community leaders
Socratic discussion and reflection woven throughout all three sessions
A practical decision-making deliverable students keep and use immediately
Optional: post-event summary report for host administrators

TEKS Alignment

This academy reinforces the critical-thinking strands of the Texas College Transition course (PEIMS N1290050, grades 9–12) and the state's College and Career Readiness Standards, including Reasoning, Intellectual Curiosity, Problem Solving, and Academic Integrity. It supports these standards; it does not replace the course or carry credit on its own.

About Strive Now

Building Leadership That Lasts

Strive Now connects character, career, and community to empower young people to think and live with purpose. Their work goes beyond skills — helping teens build the clarity and judgment to do the right things, not just more things, so their leadership actually makes an impact beyond one event or season.

Israel Castro, founder of Strive Now, is a West Point graduate, former Army officer, and El Paso native. He brings years of experience working with students, educators, and school leaders to build leadership that lasts.

📞 915-276-9607  ·  ✉️ israel@striveculture.org  ·  🌐 epstrivenow.org

Ready to Bring Students to the Leadership Academy?

The Student Leadership Academy runs concurrently with the Sun City Ed-Tech Conference on the morning of October 22, 2026 at the Starlight Event Center. Space is limited to 53 students.

⚡ Register for the Conference View Full Conference Page →