Leadership training provides opportunity for Lakehead students to excel

(Nov. 17, 2011 - Orillia, ON) Lakehead University's Orillia campus has developed a unique program to help students become better leaders. Now in its second year, the EXCEL (Excellence in Community and Environmental Leadership) program has attracted both new and experienced student leaders to a series of leadership training workshops.

This year, for the first time, the University is sending three participants of the EXCEL program to the Canadian Conference on Student Leadership at the University of Calgary, taking place November 17 to 20. The opportunity was offered to members of the University's student ambassador team, many of whom participate in the EXCEL program as part of their training.

The EXCEL training is set up as a series of nine modules, with students required to complete a minimum of five modules in order to receive a letter of participation. There is no cost to the students for the program and the workshops are offered during times that do not conflict with regular classes.

The program was established by the University's Office of Student Affairs under the direction of Assistant Dean Frank Cappadocia, who has a strong background in leadership including a master's degree in Community Leadership.

"Most universities offer some type of extracurricular leadership training," explains Cappadocia, but it is often accessible to only certain groups of students, such as ambassadors or those in upper years, whereas our program is open to the entire student body and is designed to suit students with leadership experience as well as those who are new to this kind of training."

Workshops are led by student affairs staff as well as members of the faculty on a variety of topics. "The most popular workshops are those focused on subject areas that students can apply in work-related settings," explains EXCEL organizer Simon Looker of student affairs. "Our sessions on public speaking, social networking and managing conflict have all been well attended."

Looker is also responsible for putting together the student leadership conference delegation. "We presented the opportunity to our student ambassador group and chose three students based on their written submissions about how they would benefit from attending the conference."

Simon Looker, student affairs officer at Lakehead University Orillia, reviews plans for a trip to the Canadian Conference on Student Leadership with student delegates (l to r): Nikki McBride, Lana Johnston, and Kaylen Leonienco.

Kaylen Leonienco, a third year Honours Bachelor of Social Work (HBSW) student, Lana Johnston, a fourth year Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science/Bachelor of Education (HBASc/BEd) student and Nikki McBride, a third year student, also in the HBASc/BEd program, were the successful applicants. "All three are outstanding students who have already made impressive contributions to the University." notes Looker.

The Canadian Conference on Student Leadership will be an opportunity for the Lakehead student leaders to share and learn from others. In addition to attending workshops, which are all facilitated by students, delegates will hear from a number of keynote speakers including Brett Wilson, a panelist on the reality show, Dragon's Den, and Craig Kielburger, co-founder of Free the Children.

The Lakehead student delegates are excited and looking forward to the trip west. Lana Johnston says she looks forward to learning from other students at the conference. "I hope to continue being part of the process of growing the Orillia campus. I am interested in learning how we can maintain the environment we know and love here at Lakehead as the school grows and changes."

Following their conference experience, the students will continue to participate in the University's EXCEL program as workshop facilitators.

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