Students desiring to participate in the fourth annual LeaderShape conference sponsored by the nonprofit organization have until this Wednesday to turn in applications.
Four years ago, former student-body president Jesse Dalton and a handful of other students attended a LeaderShape conference in Allerton, Ill. When they came back home, the group thought it would be a wonderful thing for U students to be able to participate in every year.
Dalton thought that if U students could go to the program every year, feelings of campus community would increase and networking would allow student groups to collaborate on worthwhile projects.
He said the session he attended in Illinois served as a “catalyst” for recent achievements on campus.
“We now have huge collaborative Union activities that weren’t big on campus before. We saw greater strengths in fighting tuition increases that year…we passed a bill through the state Legislature that led to truth in tuition meetings. That was an example of the type of collaboration that LeaderShape teaches,” Dalton said.
Dalton worked to get the program closer to home, and ever since U students have been going to East Canyon Resort for the training experience.
“LeaderShape helps enhance your awareness of your own leadership capabilities, and also allows for networking and personal growth opportunities,” said Spencer Ricks, United Leadership Council director for the Associated Students of the University of Utah.
Many companies and organizations, including ASUU, have invested a lot of money and time in LeaderShape, an example of their strong commitment to the program. For example, ASUU donated $8,500, Barb Snyder, vice president of student affairs, gave $8,000 and Chartwells will provide all of the food for this year’s week-long conference.
Throughout the week, students learn how to develop their own leadership qualities and how to accomplish group goals.
ASUU holds another leadership conference annually called the United Leadership Council. This year, it spent $18,000 on the event, which lasted two days.
According to Ricks, the two conferences serve two different purposes.
“ULC is put on by student government and more people are able to attend because it’s only a two-day event, as opposed to six days. LeaderShape is more focused on the individual and ULC focuses on networking amongst student leaders on campus,” he said.
ULC is also cheaper than LeaderShape, costing $20 per student compared to $100.
Students interested in applying can download applications from www.ustudents.com and turn them into Union Room 408.