Eight of Douglas Anderson’s ten Arts Departments nominated five freshmen each to participate in the 5th Annual What A Leader (WAL) Competition, a countywide showcase of emerging leadership talent. From that outstanding pool of nominees, Nico Barbero, Levi Welch, Abigail R. Reyes, and Dakota McKie were selected to represent Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, and they did a tremendous job representing our school with confidence, professionalism, and poise.
The competition launched with Round 1: The Social Mixer on Monday, November 10, 2025, where fifty student leaders from across Duval County entered the leadership arena—armed with The Confident 5: a firm \ handshake, eye contact, name exchange, meaningful conversation, and a firm closeout.
In this dynamic and fast-paced networking round, competitors demonstrated their ability to lead, connect, and communicate under pressure. After an intense morning of conversation and evaluation, ten semifinalists emerged—including Douglas Anderson’s own Dakota McKie and Nico Barbero.
These exceptional young leaders will advance to Round 2: Center Stage on Friday, January 23, 2026, where they will tackle real-world leadership scenarios designed to test their confidence, critical thinking, and communication skills. From there, only four will move forward to Round 3: The Executive Suite on Thursday, March 12, 2026, culminating in the What A Leader Victor’s Ceremony on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at the Cowford Chophouse Rooftop.
The ultimate victor will receive a college scholarship, cash prize, and the prestigious WAL of Fame Gold Blazer—a symbol of boldness, confidence, and rising leadership.
Congratulations to all our participants and semifinalists for representing the Douglas Anderson community proudly!