Break out of your shell at Student Leadership Confab

Student-led workshops, guest speaker encourage confab participants to break out of their shells

News contact: Laura Hancock | University Advancement
541-962-3585 | lhancock@eou.edu

Source contact: Le Alexander | Interim Director, Student Involvement
541-962-3714 | lalexand@eou.edu

March 31, 2014

Keynote speaker Kristen Hadeed.

LA GRANDE, Ore. (EOU) – Self-discovery and learning to take initiative are integral to the college experience. So is having fun, and EOU’s Student Leadership Confab is promoting an amalgam of all three this year.

Set for Saturday, April 12 at the Gilbert Center, the confab encourages participants to be themselves with workshops and sessions all focused on the theme “Break Out of Your Shell.”

“We’re helping students develop as leaders and transition their skills to both academic and co-curricular activities,” said Le Alexander, interim director of Student Involvement at EOU. “College is fun and so is leadership!”

Alexander said discussions are intended to challenge participants to consider how they can improve their work, and be innovative as students and professionals regardless of their field, expertise or interest.

A highlight will be keynote speaker Kristen Hadeed, a young entrepreneur and business owner from Florida. Hadeed speaks to colleges around the nation about factors that help determine a young person’s success in life: leadership, self-confidence and overcoming fear of failure.

Spurred on by a desire to purchase an expensive pair of jeans, Hadeed started a cleaning business to earn the money. That was in 2009 when she was a junior at the University of Florida. Today, her company Student Maid™ employs more than 400 college students during peak seasons.

“I’m really excited to hear Kristen speak,” said Devon Hill, a graduate student at EOU. “She’s so full of energy and her story fits perfectly with the theme of the confab.”

Hadeed emphasizes the importance of creating an organizational culture that motivates members and she’ll be sharing her enthusiasm with students all day.

Hill chairs the seven-member Student Leadership Committee responsible for organizing and facilitating the confab and approached Hadeed about speaking.

“We conducted a survey to help figure out what we want to hear and do, as students, for this event,” Hill said. “Every year I’ve been here [at EOU] I’ve gone and now I’m seeing a different side and it’s really fun to be involved with the planning.”

Click thumbnail to view poster.

Hill also works alongside Alexander as the Student Involvement graduate coordinator. After she completes her master of science in teaching she plans to pursue a leadership career in higher education.

“These opportunities all help students develop and decide what they want to do in life,” Alexander said. “Giving them an idea they can run with and seeing it blossom…it’s moments like this that pinpoint what they’ve done and where they’re going next.”

EOU students attend the confab for free, but should register by April 9 via OrgSync at https://orgsync.com/21911/forms/98028.

For questions e-mail Alexander at alexand@eou.edu. Updates are on Twitter @EOUInvolvement with the hashtag #SLConfab.

Student Leadership Committee seeking volunteers for Beautification Day

As part of the confab, EOU’s Student Leadership Committee is partnering with grounds and facilities for the third annual Beautification Day, Apr. 9.

Faculty, staff and students are invited to pitch-in between 2-5 p.m. There will be multiple projects including planting trees or flowers, helping with various landscaping projects and beautifying the campus grounds.

For more information contact the Center for Student Involvement at 541-962-3704 or gradstuinvolve@eou.edu.

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