Woodwell Leadership Award: John Melkon ’27 | Avon Old Farms News | About Us | Avon Old Farms

Deep in a rainforest thousands of miles away from home, in a foreign country with a language he didn’t speak, rafting through river rapids without access to his cell phone—this is the situation that junior John Melkon ’27 found himself in this past summer. No, this wasn’t a harrowing tale of survival. It was the reward John earned for winning last year’s Woodwell Leadership Award.

Each year at Avon Old Farms, one rising junior earns the Woodwell Leadership Award. The Award was created by Al O’Connor ’75, in memory of his classmate and friend Richard H. “Woody” Woodwell ’75, who lost his life in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The award recipient is chosen through an essay contest meant to determine which student best demonstrates the potential for community service and leadership. The recipient then receives the funding to attend an Outward Bound program of their choice. Outward Bound programs are outdoor education retreats that promote personal growth, leadership capabilities, and environmental appreciation.

John, a third-year student from Cornwall, N.Y., admits he almost didn’t submit an essay due to being too busy with his other schoolwork. “I had a lot of homework that week, but I had some time on the last day before we had to submit,” John explains. “A lot of my friends had already entered, so I decided to go for it too.” His essay detailed his conscious effort to lead others quietly through example rather than use his voice to give direction, and how he hoped an Outward Bound experience might improve his ability to speak in front of strangers or large groups.

He says he submitted his essay with no expectations of winning, so when he received an email to report to Chris Webb, who leads the award decision committee, he was nervous rather than excited. “One day during lunch I got an email from Mr. Webb saying to come to his office. I actually thought I was in trouble, but then he told me I had won. It was a huge surprise.”

Outward Bound offers experiences throughout the United States. Recent award recipients have backpacked through the Rocky Mountains, canoed through the waterways in northern Minnesota, and braved the desert terrain of southern Utah. John took things a step further and decided to white water raft through Costa Rica. “I wanted to get a new perspective. I had never been to Costa Rica before, so seeing a new country and experiencing a new culture was a big part of it. My mom probably wishes I picked a closer one.”

On August 3, John departed via plane for his first trip to Central America. There he met up with the seven other participating students from around the country at a “home base,” where they all learned the basics of camping, white water rafting, and other skills required for their journey. It was also a chance to get to know each other and start congealing as a team.

On the third day, the group gathered their gear, boarded their rafts, and began their journey down the Sarapiqui River. It didn’t take long for the lessons in leadership and teamwork to begin. “One of my first realizations was that communication was going to be really important.” Communication was made difficult, however, due to the volume of the raging rapids and the fact that one person was responsible for steering each raft while the others paddled. Weather also proved to be a factor. “River conditions changed so much day by day depending on the rain. You had to use landmarks to figure out where you were.”

Some days, individuals were selected to ride solo on kayaks. Every day, the group was responsible for traversing a stretch of the river, finding and setting up camp, and cooking their own meals.

As the trip went on, John and the others continued to improve their communication and teamwork in addition to their rafting and wilderness survival skills. “The level of connection I was able to build with the others on the trip was amazing. I think it was in part because we didn’t have our phones, so we would pass the time by talking to each other. In less than two weeks, we were able to become such good friends. It’s crazy.”

The highlight of the trip, John says, came during the midpoint rest day. There was no rafting that day. Instead, the group explored the nearby region, eventually finding a park. There, they played soccer with a group of local kids, and didn’t stop even when it started to rain. “We were all slipping around this wet field,” John shares. “It was so much fun.”

Each day, everyone would be given a role like cook, cleaner, group leader, etc. This gave John a further opportunity to practice his leadership skills and observe them in others. “The person who was appointed to be the leader that day was in charge of our schedule, what to pack, all that kind of stuff. As the trip went on, we all gradually gained more responsibility.”

For John, this was exactly what he had hoped for when he signed up for the trip.

“Now, I feel much more prepared to speak in front of large groups. I just feel better about it. I ran for Student Council my freshman year, but kind of botched my speech. Maybe I’ll go for it again now.”

Now aspiring to take on leadership roles after persevering through his summer challenge, John is the latest piece of proof that the Woodwell Leadership Award is just another way Avon turns boys into inspired men of character.

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