Launching Leadership Conference held at Minot State University
MINOT, N.D. – Strengthen ND partnered with Minot State University and North Dakota Department of Commerce to host the first leadership institute for high school students in the north central region of North Dakota Oct. 19-23.
“Launching Leadership is a community-first focused leadership program which engages high school students in developing leadership skills and implementing these skills within their local communities,” said Beth Odahlen, Strengthen ND director of community engagement and solutions. “Launching Leadership highlighted a multitude of ways leadership can happen within individual communities. Students are able to take skills learned in this program and return to their local communities to make positive impacts and change.”
The program provided education specific to leadership development, as well as introduced participants to local communities, businesses, organizations, and local leaders. Those in attendance learned essential leadership pillars and developed a list of local and regional issues they were concerned about in their own communities.
“What makes this conference different is that it is not just leadership for the sake of leadership,” said Jim Sturm, Minot State University Looyenga Leadership Center director. “Our goal was to teach students skills that they can then use to positively impact their own communities. We want to be instrumental in getting young people interested in what is happening in their hometowns and willing to get involved to create positive change.”
The Launching Leadership Conference began late afternoon on Wednesday, Oct. 19 and ran through 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22. Attendees stayed on Minot State’s campus and took several field trips including to Project Bee and Basin Electric Wind Farm.
“The students involved in this conference worked on projects to find ways to involve young people in their communities in a positive way. We want them to look beyond simple community service projects to how they can create lasting change,” said Sturm. “To accomplish this, they heard from a variety of speakers from the local region about real leadership issues. They took field trips in the region to see what makes North Central North Dakota unique. We wanted them to learn about the challenges, concerns, and capabilities of their communities.”
Interactive sessions at Minot State offered the opportunity for students to learn from experts and network with other professionals, expanding their knowledge in a fun and interactive way while hands-on training got them up to speed on the latest tools and techniques in various fields.
Minot State leadership studies students were also present at the conference.
“Another benefit of the program is that our own leadership students were active in helping teach these skills,” added Sturm. “We had several student leaders from the region who served as presenters and group leaders, so they also got to further develop their own leadership tools through their involvement. And I think the conference participants really enjoyed hearing from people much closer to their own age.
Organizers of the event hope the inaugural Launching Leadership Conference will serve as a template for future conferences throughout the state.
“North Dakota is a great place to live, work, and raise a family,” said Odahlen. “As more and more individuals call North Dakota home, our communities will grow and change. Launching Leadership provides practical experiences to our future North Dakota leaders, to get them ready to lead North Dakota in the future. We hope to expand Launching Leadership statewide over the next two years to meet the ever-expanding need for community leaders.”
For more information about the Launching Leadership Conference, visit strengthennd.com/launching-leadership-conference.
About Minot State University
Minot State University is a public university dedicated to excellence in education, scholarship, and community engagement achieved through
rigorous academic experiences, active learning environments, commitment to public service, and a vibrant campus life.
Published: 10/26/22
