This is quite different from

the traditional student role. "Typically schools have students involved

in deciding how the student body will dress, speak and work, but seldom

are students given any say in more important things," stated Landmark

Dean of Students Mike Titus, who heads up the programs. He noted that

Landmark prefect kids have a lot of responsibility and a lot of expectation

placed upon them."

A prefect is a deputy or officer

someone assigned to oversee others. "The prefect concept goes back

to the Bible", Titus said, "Daniel, for instance, served in

a prefect position."

Leadership and School Pride

The two main goals of the prefect

program are to give seniors a real sense of ownership in their school

and significant authority and opportunities to lead, "so it's not

just a place they go from 8 to 3," Titus said.

"Prefect is a really good

idea," said Head Prefect Melissa Johnson, "especially as a way

for seniors to get involved in the school and get experience with leadership."

She added the responsibility encourages students to "do things well

and live right, knowing people are looking up to them."

Johnson is also a member of

student government, the tennis team, and a cheerleader. She plans to major

in business in college and "probably open my own business when I

get out." That is where the real success of the prefect program will

be able to be seen.

"One of the things we

have found is that just because you give a kid a title or they get elected

class president the assumption is, they must be a leader," Titus

said. "Not necessarily. They have leadership potential, but they

still need training. We want them to be a success, not be frustrated trying

to lead their class." Leadership training is a vital part of the

Prefect program. Each year, new prefects spend time with and get input

from the outgoing seniors and go on a leadership retreat during the summer.

There, prefects, class officers and other students in leadership roles

study leadership skills and prepare for the upcoming year. Additional

training opportunities are given during the year.

Leading an Honorable Life

Prefects are also in charge

of training fellow students on Landmark's honor code, another new program

instituted last year.

"Most honor codes have

to do with a set of rules about lying, cheating, stealing " Titus

said. "We have those, but we are trying to get across an inner commitment

to live honorably and to model ourselves after Jesus Christ. What sets

us apart is our motivation."

"When 'good' kids go off

to college and go crazy," noted Titus, "it's because the rules

and lifestyle choices they had in high school came from outside ­

the rules their parents and school want them to follow. In college, those

external constraints are not there."

The goal of Landmark's honor

code, on the other hand, is to instill in students a desire to have integrity

and character, Titus said, that they take with them wherever they go.

"We don't always make

honorable choices," he said, "but we can make a commitment that

it is a goal in our life worthy of striving for, to make those choices."

Melissa Johnson and Joseph

Register serve as this year's Head Prefects, overseeing and making sure

that everything that needs to get done does. Service Prefects are Courtney

Piribek and Rachel Jarrell, Campus Pride Prefects are Josh Jones and Cecil

Ward, Danielle Taussig is Discipline Prefect, Publicity Prefects are Ryan

Swinford and Abby Archer, Discipleship Prefects are Jeff DerCola and Jenny

Cone, Carrie Wozniak is Prayer Prefect, Chapel/Focus Prefects are Emily

Burslem and Alan Gay, Student Life Prefects are Eddie Solly and Ruthie

Stacks, and Admissions Prefects are Caroline McKibben and Scott Emery.

Landmark's Headmaster Terry

Harrison brought the prefect and honor code programs to the school last

year, and visited other schools when planning them. Titus noted a lot

of private schools have prefects, especially boarding schools.

"Mr. Harrison has said

that we want to put a president in the White House some day," Titus

said. "I have started to say, 'OK, I believe this is a worthy goal."

Through the prefect and honor

code programs, Landmark Christian School students are growing leadership

strength and the internal and eternal wisdom that is takes to manage success

in any leadership role, including the Presidency of the United States.