2008 Woodie Awards
Students are inspired to improve leadership skills
Kate Poole
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: News
On Saturday Feb. 9 Sacred Heart University's 5th Annual Leadership Conference took place for the aspiring leaders on campus. The guest speaker this year was Tom Pesce, well known entertainer and Sacred Heart alumni.
Each year the leadership conference is held in order to give students the opportunity to expand and improve on their leadership skills. The day-long event included a complimentary breakfast, guest speaker, and back to back educational sessions that were concentrated on leadership.
The morning presentation began with Pesce's question, "What is leadership?" With the help of the audience he came to the conclusion that "Wherever you are in life, if you're helping someone else; you're a leader."
During his hour long presentation Pesce taught skills that a person needs in order to be a leader. His experience at Sacred Heart allowed him to closely relate to current students.
"I try to select interactive and relatable speakers. This year's presenter Tom Pesce graduated from Sacred Heart in 2003 and was a student leader during his tenure at the University. It was great to have an alumni speak to current students," said Jane Sanders, director of leadership programs.
"As a leader, we have to make an impact, not just an impression," said Pesce.
His act made an impression on the students due to his interaction with them as well as his relatable examples and experience.
"He wasn't just telling us how to be a leader, he was showing us how," said sophomore Jackie Massella.
Sophomore class president, Katie Higgins, participated in one of Pesce's exercises. She was presented with the choice to choose a bag with a ten-dollar bill inside, or to choose a mystery bag, which represented the future.
In Higgins' mystery bag was a lemon. When Pesce cut the lemon in half, the ten-dollar bill was inside. This exercise demonstrated to the audience Pesce's motto, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade."
The use of music and magic helped to grab the attention of the students so that it was not only a lecture, but an exciting learning experience.
Each year the leadership conference is held in order to give students the opportunity to expand and improve on their leadership skills. The day-long event included a complimentary breakfast, guest speaker, and back to back educational sessions that were concentrated on leadership.
The morning presentation began with Pesce's question, "What is leadership?" With the help of the audience he came to the conclusion that "Wherever you are in life, if you're helping someone else; you're a leader."
During his hour long presentation Pesce taught skills that a person needs in order to be a leader. His experience at Sacred Heart allowed him to closely relate to current students.
"I try to select interactive and relatable speakers. This year's presenter Tom Pesce graduated from Sacred Heart in 2003 and was a student leader during his tenure at the University. It was great to have an alumni speak to current students," said Jane Sanders, director of leadership programs.
"As a leader, we have to make an impact, not just an impression," said Pesce.
His act made an impression on the students due to his interaction with them as well as his relatable examples and experience.
"He wasn't just telling us how to be a leader, he was showing us how," said sophomore Jackie Massella.
Sophomore class president, Katie Higgins, participated in one of Pesce's exercises. She was presented with the choice to choose a bag with a ten-dollar bill inside, or to choose a mystery bag, which represented the future.
In Higgins' mystery bag was a lemon. When Pesce cut the lemon in half, the ten-dollar bill was inside. This exercise demonstrated to the audience Pesce's motto, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade."
The use of music and magic helped to grab the attention of the students so that it was not only a lecture, but an exciting learning experience.
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