Link Up! at annual Student Leadership Conference

Link Up! during EOU Leadership Week & Conference

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

March 23, 2012
LA GRANDE, Ore. (EOU) – Presenters and participants are sought for the fifth annual Student Leadership Conference, Saturday, April 14 at EOU.

Organizers are busy preparing a program of interactive and engaging topics revolving around this year’s theme of Mountie Olympics: Link Up!

Former NFL lineman Steve Wallace is the keynote speaker for the event. The three-time Super Bowl winner is featured in a chapter of Michael Lewis’ book, “The Blind Side,” the true story of pro football player Michael Oher.

Wallace’s lecture starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 13 in McKenzie Theatre in Loso Hall and is free and open to the public.

Other presenters include Bridget Burns, chief of staff for the Oregon University System.

Leadership Week is also gearing up prior to the conference beginning April 9. With a different event every day, students will hear from guest speakers, participate in a campus beautification day, field day, the Everyone Matters initiative and more.

Everyone Matters is a global social media campaign that challenges participants to “not judge and not discriminate in thought or action” for 24 hours. Students will have the opportunity to record video messages to be incorporated for the campaign.

Sarah Hannifan and Kodi Riebling are members of the Student Leadership Conference Committee and involved with planning the activities. In February they represented EOU at the National Collegiate Leadership Conference in Tucson, Ariz. Several ideas they gleaned are being integrated into the format for the event at EOU, but with an Olympic spin.

For example, participants will be given punch cards to track their progress and at the end of the week will be awarded gold, silver or bronze certificates representing the level of their involvement.

An international flair will also be infused with music from the different countries participating in the 2012 Olympic games in London this summer.

“Teamwork, giving back to the community and inspiring people to become more involved are shared goals of Leadership Week and the conference,” Riebling said.

“It’s a great opportunity for students and others to network and build leadership skills – the place to start if you want to make a change,” Hannifan added.

Monday, April 2, is the deadline to submit proposals for conference presentations, workshops and panel sessions. Registration is free for EOU students and $5 for non-university participants and includes lunch. The first 100 EOU registrants will receive a free T-shirt.

Leadership Week and the conference are made possible through a partnership with the Student Leadership Committee and the National Society of Leadership and Success. Additional support comes from the Center for Student Involvement, Associated Students of EOU, Vending Committee and Multicultural Center.

For more information call 541-962-3704 or go online to www.eou.edu/center or eou.orgsync.com/slc.