January 28, 2009

OWU Summit Set for Saturday
Students are gearing up to discuss the meaning of leadership

Image courtesy of Student Involvement Office

According to Nancy Bihl Rutkowski, assistant director of student involvement and coordinator of the conference, OWU Summit is the companion to a leadership conference that is held in the fall. “We realize several groups change leadership mid-year, so it is just as important to educate new leaders at this point in the year,” she explains.

This year’s conference theme and name is “OWU Summit,” which relates to the purpose of the event. “It is reflective of the various groups that are coming together for the conference,” Bihl Rutkowski says. “We also hope that the conference helps attendees to reach the ‘peak’ of their performance as campus leaders.”

The event’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Ron Binder from the University of South Carolina. “He is a seasoned presenter with great credentials,” Bihl Rutkowski explains. “He is a very fun presenter, too.”

Special schedules have been prepared for each of the three categories of participants. Attendees in the emerging leaders track are freshman and sophomore students who have been nominated by peers, faculty, or administrators as demonstrating leadership potential. For these students, the conference will offer information about the “nuts and bolts” of campus leadership, discovering leadership style, and specific ways to get involved on campus.

Student organization leaders will have the opportunity to learn about maintaining balance as an active leader and the main challenges that seasoned leaders face. They will also learn about an important new program called OrgSync that will help OWU organizations to communicate and conduct business more effectively.  Advisors will participate in combinations of these programs, including a round-table discussion.

Bihl Rutkowski says that she very excited about the effects the program can have on student leaders.  She also looks forward to spending quality time with students. “Selfishly speaking, after many years at OWU and in higher education, I still love being surrounded by our students. They are bright, and their enthusiasm for OWU and their organizations really motivates me.”

OWU Summit will begin with check-in and brunch at 9:15 a.m.in the Hamilton-Williams Campus Center Benes A on Saturday morning. It will conclude with a reception and t-shirt giveaway at 12:30 p.m. Students interested in participating should contact the Student Involvement Office or e-mail Nancy Bihl Rutkowski at nbrutkow@owu.edu.

– Amanda Zechiel ’09