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Student and community leaders meet at banquet
By Benjamin Nestler
Whalesong Staff
As a conclusion
to the student leadership program, a banquet was held to recognize
the work and contributions of student leaders from our campus. Beginning
last spring, a group of about 30 students enrolled in a leadership
course taught by Loraine Derr. During this past semester and summer
many of those students chose to continue on in the campus Leadership
Program organized by Vice-Provost Vicki Orazem.
These students were able to link up with leaders from
the community and “shadow” them and get involved in various
leadership positions on campus and off. In addition, at the banquet
each was presented with a certificate for completion of the Leadership
Program.
“The banquet tried to connect our best and brightest
with the best and brightest of community leaders,” said Orazem.
One student, Jennifer Loesch, was able to shadow Derek
Peterson, who is a director for youth advocacy at the Alaska Association
of School Boards. Loesch started her leadership experience as a
TA for the Freshman 120 Humanities class, then worked for the Chancellor’s
Office this summer, and now is the legislative affairs coordinator
for student leaders.
Loesch said, “I felt very honored to be recognized
at the banquet, Vicki and Loraine were great instructors and the
experience was absolutely amazing.”
Chancellor John Pugh said that partnering students up with a mentor
gave them a chance to see what kinds of skills are needed for leadership.
Pugh stated, “Developing student leaders is everybody’s
job whether you are in administration or faculty. Part of higher
education is to give students skills to be leaders in their profession
in addition to awarding a degree.”
“The program helped to develop experience all around,
learning to help others excel, or an organization to expand,”
said Student Body President Mark Graves. “The banquet could
not have happened without the Chancellor, Vicki and Loraine. The
chance to talk to community leaders at the banquet setting was great
in addition to being recognized for our work.”
Student leader Virginie Duverger had the opportunity
to teach a 200-level Conversational French class through the leadership
program last semester.
“The opportunity to teach a class at the University
level without having the necessary requirements such as a degree,
in addition to being an international student, is very unusual and
was an incredible experience. The vegetable lasagna dinner was my
favorite, too,” she said.
Various members of the UAS College of Fellows, the Alumni
Association, and Campus Council attended the banquet helping to
make it a great farewell and close to last year’s program.
If you are interested in becoming a student leader, contact Vice
Provost Orazem in her office at 465-6421, or contact Sue Koester,
who is teaching the first half of this semester’s academic
portion of the Leadership Program. Lynn Uhl will be heading the
mentoring program this semester with the goal of having a job shadowing
experience with a community leader available for any student who
is interested.
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