Alpha Leadership program offers students a chance to hone leadership skills
In any other setting, Harry Potter's friend Neville Longbottom and Apple founder Steve Jobs would have nothing in common.
In Alpha Leadership Experience presentations, the two serve as examples of what it means to be a leader – something the sessions strive to teach to students.
A once-a-week program put on by the Leadership Institution at Central Michigan University, the five-week course teaches students how to utilize their leadership skills through team building exercises, cultural simulation and other learning strategies. The last session for this semester will be held 6-8 p.m. Feb. 26 in Powers Hall 136.
“Alpha Leadership focuses on letting the individual discover their own leadership style,” said Caroline Powers, coordinator of the Alpha Leadership Experience. “(It focuses on) finding out what their strong suits are as a leader and what they might need to work on or improve upon, and how they can adapt it to different situations and when working with other people.”
The free program is held once a semester through the Leadership Institute in Powers Hall. The maximum capacity for the course is 100 students and is filled on a first come, first serve basis. Registration occurs in the fall. All students are welcome.
The long term effects of being part of Alpha Leadership, Powers said, are monumental.
“(Students) take what they learned through finding out what their leadership style is and then take it from here and get involved on campus,” Powers said. “They take (their leadership skills) to other organizations or to jobs and internships and then they grow as a leader and develop from there.”
Students at the session were encouraged to participate in various team building activities, from attempting to untangle a rope as a team to putting on skits about their leadership types.
Alpena freshman Matt Belanger and Plymouth freshman Steven Keene first heard about the program when fellow students in their residence halls got involved.
“Being so close with my floor, I really wanted a chance to meet new people,” Belanger said.
When they found out friends of theirs were a part of the Leadership Institute, the four were hooked on the idea of Alpha Leadership. With all but Beyer having been involved in programs run through the Leadership Institute, they recommend all students take the opportunity to sign up for the program.
“I wanted to become a more effective leader,” Keene said. “I’m already in a leadership position but I want to improve myself.”
For questions, contact Jesi Parker at (989) 774-LEAD.
