West Virginia State University (WVSU) students have the opportunity to participate in one of the nation’s most well-known leadership development conferences, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Annual Leadership Institute. The Leadership Institute is free for WVSU students selected to attend.
Designed for students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the 15th annual conference will take place Nov. 13-17, 2015, in Washington, D.C.
Students interested in attending are encouraged to act now as on campus interviews are currently taking place.
Earon L. Payton II, a junior majoring in Biology/pre-med, was one of three WVSU students who attended the conference last fall, and encourages Yellow Jackets to apply for this year’s conference.
“I see this as one of the many great things that State has to offer students,” Payton said. “I liked the pace of the conference, learning about technology, overcoming challenges, meeting students from other colleges.”
“The importance of networking, along with the leadership seminars, job fairs and internship opportunities were expressed in every meeting to promote oneself and increase valuable experience for my resume,” said Michael Snead, a senior majoring in History and Art History. “It was the most organized and most technologically savvy conference I have ever attended.”
U.S. Navy veteran, and current WVSU junior, Chloe Kelly Powell, had a similar experience in attending the Leadership Institute.
“The speakers were really good, and all of them had a different strength,” said Powell, who is seeking a double major in Business Administration with concentrations in Accounting and Economics. “One of the speakers was a four-star general, and I was very interested in what they had to say.”
Students selected to attend the Leadership Institute are generally juniors or seniors with at least a 3.25 GPA and have exhibited leadership characteristics on campus. They must also participate in one-on-one interviews with Sharon Smith Banks, Academic Program Coordinator with WVSU.
“This really is a wonderful opportunity that I wish more of our students would take advantage of,” said Banks. “Those who are chosen to participate in the conference gain skills to prepare them to enter today’s competitive and global workforce.”
Anyone interested in applying to attend the 2015 Thurgood Marshall College Fund Annual Leadership Institute should contact Banks at (304) 766-3078 or banksss@wvstateu.edu by mid-March.
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