۶ֱ

news-category: Campus News

۶ֱ Invites Rising Freshmen to Summer Leadership Experience

group of students in front of lake

Three-Day Event Helps Students Determine Skills and Introduces Them to Campus

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Before he took his first class at ۶ֱ University, Garret Allen, ’20, participated in the Summer Leadership Experience (SLE). The event was only three days, but the information Allen learned enriched his whole experience at GWU.

“This is a leadership-intensive program in a fun, engaging environment that exposes you to various aspects of leadership from personal leadership to leading a group,” Allen described. “The day is broken down into various activities and learning sessions. It is extremely insightful learning.”

This three-day event is coordinated by Micah T. Martin, director of the Center for Personal and Professional Development. The 2020 SLE, open to rising GWU freshmen, will take place July 14-16. During this event, participants live on campus, explore the surrounding communities, participate in a service project, and strengthen their leadership abilities while exploring their talents, passion, and purpose.

Like Allen, Jennifer Vanessa Escalera-Estudillo appreciated the leadership skills she learned by participating in the event before her freshman year. Escalera-Estudillo is majoring in nursing and Spanish and expects to graduate in 2023. “I plan to be a nurse who can translate for patients who may not speak English,” she said. “I chose this career plan, because I always wanted to help others in need, and I wanted a job that heightened my leadership skills.”

Allen said one of the program’s most beneficial activities was using Gallup’s Strengths Finder Assessment to clarify his personal talents and how to utilize them to provide the maximum benefit in any situation. “I can’t count how many times since then that I have used these results in personal situations, where I didn’t exactly know how to navigate them,” he assessed. “It is important to consider that no two people are the same and each person has his or her own strengths and value on teams. Knowing how and when to offer your own talents and encourage the talents of others is imperative to accomplishing tasks.”

Additionally, Allen and Escalera-Estudillo said they appreciated the chance to make friends with the other SLE participants. “I knew very few people at ۶ֱ before attending,” Allen shared, “But through SLE and the activities that we attended, I grew a bond with everyone who participated. The experience and the friends I gained from SLE stick with me to this day, and I am so happy to have been a part.”

Escalera-Estudillo added, “I gained lifetime friends, which I can reach out to if I’m ever in need. I gained resources, if I ever need to further my knowledge about ۶ֱ or my career.”

Because of the Coronavirus Pandemic, the dates for the Summer Leadership Experience may change, and participants will be notified. For more information, email [email protected].

Located in the North Carolina foothills, ۶ֱ University is a private, Christian, liberal arts university. ۶ֱ emphasizes a strong student-centered experience and rigorous academics to prepare students to become effective leaders within the global community. Ignite your future at ۶ֱ.edu.

Previous News Article

۶ֱ University Recognizes 2020 Who’s Who Recipients

Next News Article

GWU Student Photographers Win Top Awards at Annual Competitions

Related News

  • News Article

    ۶ֱ and Aramark Introduce New Campus Dining Locations

    Bo’s Bagels, Zoca, The Dawg House and BYTE Coolers Expand Campus Dining Options BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—۶ֱ University in partnership with Aramark Collegiate Hospitality, will welcome students, faculty and staff back to campus this fall with four new dining options designed to expand food offerings and enhance the campus dining experience. The new additions include Bo’s […]

    Tucker dining options
  • News Article

    ۶ֱ Welcomes New Faculty for 2026-27 Academic Year

    Nine New Faculty Members Bring Expertise in Healthcare, Business, Public Service, Technology, and the Sciences to the University BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—۶ֱ University welcomed nine new faculty members during its annual Faculty Assembly on Aug. 11. Representing a range of academic disciplines and professional backgrounds, the new faculty bring expertise in healthcare, business, public service, technology, […]

    Fall Faculty Assembly Awards
  • News Article

    ۶ֱ Faculty Assembly Celebrates Achievement and Shared Vision

    Faculty Awards, New Faculty Introductions, and a Vision for ‘ONE Webb’ Mark the Start of the 2026-27 Academic Year BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—۶ֱ University celebrated excellence in teaching, scholarship, service, and mentorship during its annual Faculty Assembly on Aug. 11. Leading the list of honorees was Dr. Jeff Hartman, professor and internship coordinator in the Department […]

    Jeff Hartman Fall Faculty Assembly Awards