Students, Freshman Forum learn about building leadership skills and qualities at annual conference
Over 250 students from 20 high schools traveled to Troy University for this year’s Freshman Forum Excellence in Leadership Conference.
Freshman Forum holds an annual conference to allow students to get a glimpse of what it means to be a leader as well as help them develop leadership skills. This year’s theme was “Caution: Future Leaders Ahead.”
“Our conference is all about displaying the Trojan Pride we all have while sharing the leadership skills we have gained from Freshman Forum with the next generation of prospective students,” said Freshman Forum President Elle Blackmon, who is a freshman hospitality, tourism and event management major from Spanish Fort, Alabama.
Conference speakers included Troy University staff Korrie Lynn Williamson, senior director of student services, and Gus Mckenzie, assistant director of enrollment service. Breakout sessions were held with Lauren Cole, director of career services, Dr. Duane Gunn, a veteran and director of the Leadership Institute, and Dr. Dee Bennett, assistant professor of instructional leadership and administration. The sessions ended with a student panel of SGA President Betsy Bennett and Executive Vice President Caleb Smith, as well as Freshman Forum Vice President Bess Dunn and Freshman Forum Chaplain Lane Watson.
Mackenzy Rhea, Freshman Forum co-director, is a freshman exercise physiology pre-health major from Crestview, Florida. She reminisced on what it was like for her to attend the conference twice and what she hopes the high school students see as well.
“I went my junior and senior year of high school, and it’s where I fell in love with Troy University,” Rhea said. “Coming to these conferences allowed me to find a space where I could be myself and branch out my comfort zone.
"When I went my senior year, I was accepted into Troy, and I told myself right then that I wanted to be in Freshman Forum and even be the Conference Director, and that’s exactly what I am now.”
Colton Lindsey is freshmn Forum director and is a junior business management major from Cullman, Alabama. He reflected on what he wanted students to learn from the conference.“I would like students to gain better insight on what a leader does and what our university does to build leaders,” Lindsey said. “On the day of the conference, we really like to show students the Trojan way and what Trojan pride means to us.
"We hope students fall in love with our beautiful campus."
Comments