Greek Leadership and Training Program begins
Prospective future leaders of Radford University's Greek community, each nominated by their respective fraternities and sororities, have gathered to take part in the Greek Leadership and Training Program Executive Seminar Series, a six-week long initiative to develop student leadership and enhance the Greek experience at RU.
The nearly 20 students involved have many things in common such as dedication to their fraternities and sororities, commitment to public service and a desire to take on future leadership responsibilities.
Participants in the program will bond as future Greek and university-student leaders. The students will have access to RU's vice presidents, senior faculty, Greek alumni and other individuals dedicated to student development. In addition to meeting weekly with seminar hosts Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Sam Minner and Vice President of Student Affairs Mark Shanley, the group will explore their role as leaders and their potential for impacting the campus community.
The Executive Seminar Series is funded through the Phi Kappa Sigma Greek Leadership Training Fund, which was established by RU alumni of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, Beta Omega chapter (PKS-BO), to provide leaders in the RU Greek community with the leadership training needed to better serve the campus. The seminar series kicked off Oct. 1st and included a dinner for the participants hosted by President Penelope W. Kyle, at the president's official residence, Hickory Hill.
"RU's Greek community has been synonymous with a commitment to leadership and service. This initiative promises to further develop these talented student-leaders and positively contribute to RU and our communities," said Kyle. "We are tremendously grateful to the RU alumni of Phi Kappa Sigma for their generosity in supporting this program. Their dedication is making this important initiative a reality and is helping RU prepare the next generation of leaders."
Sarah Belcher, from Alpha Sigma Alpha, and Colin Beckham, from Sigma Chi, introduce themselves as they take part in an exercise for the Greek Leadership Training Seminars being hosted by Mark Shanley, Vice President of Student Affairs and Provost Sam Minner.
"We are very appreciative of the efforts of President Kyle, Provost Minner and Dr. Shanley, as they engage with students and mentor them in the development of leadership skills," said Dan Evans '84, the PKS-BO alum who led the charge on organizing the fund. "The Greek Leadership Training Fund and the Executive Seminar Series are simply additional, tangible examples of why Radford University continues to grow and enrich the lives of its students, as well as the groups, organizations, employers, institutions and communities they serve."
Students who complete the seminar and a required IMPACT retreat will receive Leadership Certificates and be eligible to compete for a $500 scholarship from the Phi Kappa Sigma alumni fund. The scholarship recipient will be determined by Minner and Shanley, the seminar hosts.
RU is home to more than 20 fraternities and sororities. Greeks are a crucial part of the community and their leadership drives many of the initiatives on campus. With an opportunity like the Executive Seminar Series, the Greeks and the rest of campus will have a new path for dialogue.