Students who are members of a campus organization and are looking for a week of summer fun on a budget are encouraged to apply to attend the LeaderShape Dallas and Fort Worth conference.
LeaderShape is an interactive six-day conference scheduled for May 12-17 that emphasizes how to lead with integrity, and is free for SMU students.
Student Senate Vice President and junior Katherine Tullos attended LeaderShape last summer and says that it was “a great experience,” and she encourages others to attend.
Participants will engage in reflection, large-group learning and planning through one-on-one interactions. The week’s curriculum will take students on a journey of self-discovery and leadership including the identification of passions, values and development of a powerful vision.
Vision is the buzz word with LeaderShape alums. SMU senior Sonia Chandiramani defines visions as “grandiose unattainable goals students strive toward.” At the LeaderShape information session Tuesday night, Chandiramani shared a story of how two participants’ visions joined for a common cause to work toward stopping global sexual violence. The two students, one from Trinity University in San Antonio and one from SMU, wanted to end sexual abuse on their campuses. The SMU student, a member of Men with Integrity, informed the other student of his organization’s core beliefs. As a result, Trinity now has an organization similar to Men with Integrity with almost 30 members.
After being nominated by her hall director, junior Claire Spiller wasn’t convinced about the whole LeaderShape experience, but attended because she thought “it was the right thing to do.” It didn’t take long for her uncertainty to disappear. She describes LeaderShape as an “incredible time where she learned so much.”
Joaquin Acevedo, a senior transfer student, enjoyed the quality time he spent with his family group during the week. The feeling was mutual. Acevedo’s “family” still meets every Thursday night to share and connect over dinner or a movie.
SMU has hosted the event for three years. 2007 is the first year when prior participants are eligible to participate in the selection process. As a program graduate, Acevedo will sit on the LeaderShape application board.
The conference, located outside of Denton in Bridgeport, Texas, accepts 30 students from SMU and 30 students from surrounding universities. Acevedo stated, “The non-SMU student cost is $700 per person.” As clearly stated on the LeaderShape application, “if a SMU applicant is accepted but fails to attend, the $700 fee will be charged to the student’s account.”
Application criteria requires that a student be a member, student assistant or leader in a student organization, have a minimum GPA of 2.5, be in good standing with the university and be an undergraduate or graduate student returning to SMU in the fall of 2007.
For more information, contact Carol Clyde, director of Leadership and Community Involvement, at [email protected].
