The third annual Leadership Conference was held in the Black and Gold Room of the Favrot Student Union last Thursday and Friday. This was the first year invitations were given outside of Grambling State University. Other schools, including Jackson State University and Southern University, Shreveport, were in attendance.
The conference was filled with discussions and debates that allowed students opportunities to further understand the expectations of the corporate world. With collaborative efforts from the Earl Lester Cole Honors College, Student Organizations and Leadership Academy, and the Student Government Association, the conference was a great success.
Praises were given to coordinators who were able to bring in the dynamic and energetic speaker who rivets his audience from the first to the last sentence, Jimmy Cabrera, who grazed the podium as he gave a motivational speech titled, “What’s in Your Backpack? Packing for Success.”
Grambling State students also moderated and facilitated seminars. Warren McElroy and Ja’Rod Morris, members of the GSU debate team, gave an insightful session entitled, “Your Power Within Debate.”
The conference incorporated sessions on continuing the academic journey. “So You Want to Go to Grad School,” moderated by Julius Campbell, a graduate and professional schools student, enlightened students about graduate school test scores, preparation and cost. Tests discussed were the GRE for graduate school, LSAT for law school, GMAT for business school, and MCAT for medical school. He advises individuals who want to pursue a post undergraduate degree in any of the previously named schools, to take the test one year before graduation to allow retake opportunities to receive a higher score.
Current leaders gained applicable knowledge that will help them in their roles as a leader on campus.
Bryant Brown, freshman class president, said, “The seminars helped me to become a better leader, and helped me with what I need to do and what I don?t need to do to go to the next level.”
He only wished that there were more students participating so that they could be exposed to the information the speakers offered.
A visiting freshman from Jackson State University, who attended six sessions, said, “The conference was very informative and the size doesn?t matter because it is the same information, and a great learning process.”
Other students considered the event as an opportunity to catch up or get ahead on things to know about leading and applying your leadership skills. Learning different leadership qualities similar to sensitivity, understanding, patience, and organizations. Also, to be able to problem solve on a world scale and have the vision to be able to identify leadership qualities in yourself and others.
Dr. John T. Wolfe, renowned author, and Dr. Frederick Humphries, a retired university president for Tennessee State and Florida A&M, took time from their round table discussion about qualities of leadership to remodel the Honors College. Drs. Wolfe and Humphries sat down with the current Earl Lester Cole Honors College Student Council president and a few potential members to help get an inside view of the conditions of the Honors College.
The discussion consisted of avenues that can be taken to improve the college and potential positive perks for joining and being an active member. A continuing theme was the reconstruction of the college from the inside out. Keenan Green, an aspiring member of the Honors College said, “before you can save the world, you must first save your family”?recognition of the problem is the first step but the second step is action and without action, the talk is useless.
The final event was the Leadership Banquet. With a welcome from Miss GSU Leslie Randle and an introduction of the speaker by President Horace A. Judson, the banquet started with enthusiasm. Keynote speaker was Charles C. Teamer Sr., president of the World Trade Center in New Orleans, who is an entrepreneur who is committed to the economic growth and development of the New Orleans area. By his inspiring speech, it was obvious that he is also deeply committed to the academic and social growth of students.