Follow the Leaders

A busload of students went to New York to see Twelve Angry Men and had an enthusiastic discussion with students from the Leadership Center afterwards. Photo: April Vari

The Leadership Center, established last summer with the blessing and financial support of Priscilla Payne Hurd, chair of the Board of Trustees, has found no lack of activities to keep itself busy and productive.

Last summer, it sent a charter group of students to the LeaderShape Institute, a national program of leadership education and team-building, held at the University of Illinois. During the academic year, under co-directors April Vari, dean of student development, and Michelle Schmidt, assistant professor of psychology, the center has brought speakers to campus, organized film and political discussion groups, and watched its first class of student leaders move confidently into College activities.

Plans are now under way for the Leadership Center to organize and host the first LeaderShape Institute in this region. It is scheduled for May 8-13, 2005, in Mount Bethel. It aims to enroll 65 students from schools around the area.

At left, we report on one Leadership Center project.