AMBOY – Growing up playing baseball, Mason Ely thought sports was what he was supposed to do.

However, it didn’t take him too long to readjust his focus.

“Part of my speech is about thriving and change, building integrity and owing your voice,” said Ely. “Something that I say in there is, at a young age when I was in junior high, I was playing baseball and involved in sports. One day, something changed, and I realized sports wasn’t for me.

“I got into student council and I started a study buddy club in junior high with a friend. With the study club, we worked with individuals who were having a tough time in class. We thought if someone their age could connect with them and help them through the struggles, it would be beneficial. We were eighth graders helping kids in fifth through seventh. We saw their grades go from Bs to As, Cs to Bs, and failing to passing.

“When I got into high school, I knew leadership is what I wanted to do. I no longer wanted to play sports. That’s where it started and it’s progressed to hosting this leadership event.”

Ely, who graduated from Amboy High School in 2022 and is now studying business management and human resources at Illinois State University, is now continuing his path in leadership.

Rise & Redefine: Leadership in Motion is a leadership event from 4-8:30 p.m. at the Amboy Community Building organized by Ely.

Keynote speakers include himself, Cade Vittorini a CEO of his own company where he invests in youth by being a one-on-one coach and mentor and Rob Hinds, who has over 20 years of experience as a consultant, coach, trainer, and is the founder of Raise YOUR Lid Consulting.

The event will also include breakout sessions, two workshops, networking, appetizers and drinks.

“It’s a leadership event I wanted to host in Amboy. I went away to college and found my love for leadership, so I felt I needed to bring something back to my hometown,” said Ely, who was a former AHS FFA president, AHS Class of 2022 president for four years, a member of the student council and Leos Club, a backstage manager for plays and musicals and hosted fundraisers for both his class and autism awareness. “Amboy doesn’t have a lot of leadership events. I thought this leadership event would be good for the Sauk Valley area.

“I thought someone younger could speak to those that are further along in their career as well as people coming into their career. I wanted to do something different for the area.”

Ely and his keynote speakers will share the message leadership is not about recognition, it’s about helping others through different challenges or difficulties, learning how to thrive in the transition and being able to know your voice matters.

Register for the event, $28.52, at the Rise & Redefine: Leadership in Motion website (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rise-redefine-leadership-in-motion-tickets-1321903311389).