Nineteen students were chosen for RCC’s second annual Student Leadership Academy that took place Saturday, April 18 in the Foundation Conference Center.
"Half of leadership is just showing up and being willing to put yourself out there," Dr. Scott Ralls, North Carolina Community College System president, told the group. He commended them for devoting
the beautiful spring Saturday to sharpening their leadership skills. “Leadership is not a group of traits or characteristics or where you went to school or the position you hold. Leadership is what you do and how
you act."
Other presentations included sessions on "What is Leadership" and "Ethics and Leadership" by Dr. Robert Shackleford, RCC president; and a session on decision making by Keith Crisco, secretary of the North
Carolina Department of Commerce.
The students also heard from Susan Scott, Student Services counselor, and Dean Beck, career and retention specialist for RCC, on personality types and leadership styles; Michelle Cole, dean of Basic Skills,
on time management and workplace skills; and Major Fred Rutledge, Randolph County Sheriff’s Department, on leadership in difficult situations.
Prior to the morning session, the students received feedback on their portfolios from a team of human resources professionals including Dan McGugin, The Timken Company; RuthAnn Scott, Express
Employment Professionals; Candice Garrett, BB&T, and Caitlin Thompson, RCC.
In the afternoon, the students heard a presentation about leadership opportunities on campus and in the community by Ross Holt, assistant director of the Randolph County Library; Amy Byrd, director of the
Volunteer Center; and Lori Shoenfeld, RCC student activities coordinator.
The members of the 2009 Student Leadership Academy were Sarah Elizabeth Blackwell, Megan Cates, Rebecca Cheek, Apryl Freeman, Sarah Golden, Callie Hanes, Charleen Holt, Frankie Ingold, Daniel
Jordan, Christopher Leonard, Brenda Lopez, Brittany Lynch, Elizabeth McLeod, Ivy McSwain, Kelly Nguyen, Andrew Snipes, Daleena Spainhour, Robert Todd, and Constance Ulrich.
Click here to see a gallery of photographs from the day's events.
