Student leaders look to put Central Michigan University’s programs on display this weekend while strengthening their leadership skills.

About 550 students from universities in Ontario, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana will gather Friday through Sunday on campus for the Great Lakes Affiliate of College and University Resident Halls.

“It’s a big deal in so many ways,” said Spring Lake junior Caitline Wozniak, the conference chairwoman. “We get to spotlight our leadership opportunities.”

GLACURH is a student leadership conference for student leaders who live in resident halls, Wozniak said.

Cobb Hall Director Mike Skonieczny, conference adviser, said the GLACURH Conference is important because other schools get a chance to see what CMU has to offer.

“It’s a point of pride,” Skonieczny said.

Wozniak said it took a lot for CMU to host the conference. In order to get it here, a presentation had to be presented to Residence Life and be approved.

“It is a pretty large investment for CMU,” Wozniak said.

Once it was approved, there had to be a 30-page paper written to GLACURH on why CMU should get to host the conference.

An adventure

This year’s theme for the GLACURH conference is Legendary Leadership-Adventure of a Lifetime. The conference also will raise money for this year’s philanthropy, World Wildlife Fund, by doing a silent auction Saturday.

“We don’t have a set amount that we are trying to raise,” said Freeland junior Ashley Stephen, volunteer coordinator. “We are just trying to raise as much (money) we possibly can.”

Stephen said if they raise enough money through the GLACURH Conference, they get to adopt a polar bear in their name.

Skonieczny said they are asking the universities coming to the conference to also fundraise so they can send one big donation.

Many students are needed to help run the GLACURH Conference. Even if a student does not live in the residence halls, there are more than 150 volunteers needed to help run the conference, Wozniak said.

Only 11 student leaders who live in residence halls will be able to attend the actual conference, she said.

“Central has given me so many opportunities; I love everything here,” Wozniak said. “I want to show (CMU) off, I am so proud of Central.”

For more information, visit the GLACURH Web site at glacurh2009.cmich.edu.

E-mail the author: Kelli Ameling