The University’s Office of Campus Involvement has begun its application process for Leadershape, a renown leadership program it puts on every summer.
The program is reserved for 50 of the University’s up-and-coming student leaders, and takes them to Cleveland for six days at the beginning of the summer to build their leadership skills.
Bowling Green’s campus-based Leadershape Institute was founded by Kevin Bailey, an associate dean of students in the Office of Campus Involvement. The campuses are affiliated with Leadershape, Inc., which hosts a national version of the institute each summer. Bailey participated in one of those national sessions a few years back, and decided he wanted to bring it to the University.
Each year, the University’s version of the program has gotten bigger. Bailey said that 26 students participated the first year and 32 last year. He hopes for at least 40 this time around.
“The program is a six-day leadership experience, but it’s unlike any other, in that it is six days long, and it’s about teaching leadership skills for a lifetime,” Bailey said. “I use the cliché of ‘Give me a fish and I’ll eat for a day; teach me how to fish, and I’ll eat for a lifetime.'”
Bailey described each day as having its own theme, and every subsequent day building upon the previous one.
“We hope that by the end of the week, everyone involved has a plan to implement what they’ve learned in something they care about,” Bailey said. “My plan was to bring Leadershape to BGSU.”
Kevin Kelly, a recent graduate of the University who facilitated numerous leadership programs on campus, including Leaders in Residence, Advanced Leaders in Residence and the Peer Leadership Council, said that the experience gave him skills he is using today.
“I am learning all over again,” he said. “My life has placed me in completely new circumstances, and I find myself using many of the skills I learned at Leadershape to drive my future. I have been chasing my dreams, which is something Leadershape encourages.”
Kelly said he plans to be involved nationally with Leadershape, and is already a member of the Leadershape Alumni Association. Other faculty will make appearances during the week, including Vice President Edward Whipple, Assistant Vice President Wanda Overland and other University faculty who facilitate small-group sessions throughout the week.
In addition, Leadershape, Inc. provides two persons to facilitate the large group sessions that take place during the week. Students who have participated in the program before seem to have taken to it well.
“Leadershape was one of the most unique experiences I have ever had,” Jenn Macali, a resident advisor in McDonald, said. “It is hard to describe to someone who has never experienced it for themselves. I can say that it helped me become a better leader and develop as a person greatly.”
Liz Maxson, another past participant and RA in McDonald, agreed.
“It is an amazing experience,” she said. “It is a week-long intensive training program that allows to learn from others and develop your leadership skills and potential. During the week, you develop a vision for something you are passionate about and then plan the action you are going to take to accomplish it. It is a very rewarding experience, and you transform into a different person then you were before.”
Applications are being accepted until Feb. 7.
