Thurmond II travels to DC for academics and athletics

Local Toccoa resident, 12-year-old Craig Thurmond II, recently spent two weeks in Washington, D.C. for academics and athletics.

In July, Thurmond, had the opportunity to spend two weeks in the Nation’s Capital, for two separate national events; Envision National Young Leaders Conference and the Baseball Factory National Middle School team in the DC All-star Experience.

Thurmond was nominated by his sixth grade Social Studies teacher, Rebekah Harris, to attend the Junior National Young Leaders Conference.

According to Envision’s Chief Academic Officer Andrew Potter, the conference is for high-achieving middle-schoolers to learn how to innovate and think creatively.

Joining students from across the nation, Thurmond took part in a unique academic and leadership development experience, through workshops, group simulations and historical site visits.

Thurmond told WNEG News about his recent trip.

“It was big, being nominated to be able to get to go to D.C., by my teacher,” Thurmond said. “It showed that she really thought I had a lot of leadership in me…Going to the Library of Congress, and getting to go inside of there, that was interesting.

Other places he visited included the National Museum of American History, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans and Korean War Veterans Memorials and an excursion over to Historic Harper’s Ferry National Historic Park to study John Brown’s 1859 raid.

During his second week in D.C., Thurmond took to the baseball field for his second national event, representing Georgia, in the Baseball Factory Middle School Team DC All-star Experience.

In D.C., he was able to train under professional and minor league coaches and college and pro scouts.

Through the Baseball Factory, Thurmond attended the MLB All-star Home Run Derby at National’s Park.

Thurmond said the derby was one of favorite experiences from the trip.

“It was awesome when Bryce Harper hit the last home run, I thought the stadium was going to fall down, everybody was jumping up and down, screaming and yelling, it was interesting.”

By attending these two, very different, national events, Thurmond has gained invaluable experiences from the nation’s capital.

Lastly, Thurmond says, he is very thankful for the support he received from his community.