On May 2, students from across North Carolina gathered in Raleigh to participate in the 2025 McIntyre Youth Leadership Challenge Speech Ceremony, a key feature of this year’s Law Day celebration.
Hosted by the North Carolina Bar Foundation and the NC Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division, the Challenge encourages young people to demonstrate the qualities of good citizenship by developing the skills required to seek solutions to various problems within their local communities through research, public speaking, and community action.
Now in its eighth year, the McIntyre Youth Leadership Challenge was created through the vision and support of former U.S. Congressman Mike McIntyre, who currently serves as Ward and Smith’s Senior Advisor for Government Relations and Economic Development. The Challenge reflects his long-standing commitment to public service, youth engagement, and civic leadership.
Speaking at the ceremony, McIntyre welcomed students, families, and members of the legal community to the event, which featured finalist speeches from middle and high school students across the state. The ceremony was presided over by distinguished judges, including North Carolina Court of Appeals Judges Donna Stroud and Chris Freeman. This year's MYLC Co-Chairs were attorneys Sarah Mink and Ashley Oldfield.
“Law Day is a reminder that the rule of law is not just a foundation of our democracy—it’s a call to action,” said McIntyre. “These students have shown they are ready to answer that call, using their voices and ideas to shape a brighter future for their communities and our state.”
The McIntyre Youth Leadership Challenge is one of several student-centered initiatives offered as part of Law Day observance, an annual initiative established in 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to celebrate the rule of law. The event concluded with a celebration hosted by the NCBA YLD at Jiddi Space in downtown Raleigh.
To learn more about the McIntyre Youth Leadership Challenge, contact Sara Dowd at sdowd@ncbar.org or visit: https://www.ncbarfoundation.org/our-programs/lawyers-in-schools/mcintyre-youth-leadership-challenge.
