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June 8-12, 2008
The Oklahoma Leadership Academy is an annual weeklong leadership training program hosted by the Academy of Leadership & Liberty on the campus of Oklahoma Christian University. The program targets high school students from throughout the region who are possessed of exceptional leadership talent. By the end of the program, students have a plan for continuing their leadership development and the confidence to start taking the lead.
Character & Ethics:
As with all Academy of Leadership & Liberty programs, this program seeks to assist young people to develop into character filled, ethical leaders for the future of this state and the world. All the way through the program, students are challenged to consider the ethical aspects of leadership. Also, students are prompted to consider the role of character and character development in the leader. As a team, the students wrestle with ethical dilemmas and each speaker brings a personal ethical challenge with his or her subject.
Networking & Teamwork:
Students use the week to develop an invaluable resource—a network of other leaders. Every leader knows that without people, nothing gets done. An integral part of success in any endeavor is a collection of people who bring different talents, skills, and resources to the table. By linking student leaders together with other leaders at an early age, students get a head start on a life of successful leadership and achievement. All of the program components are designed with networking and diversity in mind. The moment students are registered for the program they are assigned to a team that is as diverse in makeup as possible. This forces students to work outside their comfort zone, to make different relationships, and to consider new viewpoints.
During the week, teams work on a number of projects together that help students to develop teamwork, communication, and problem solving skills. Students are presented with challenging and fun situations and have to work together to achieve a successful result. At the end of the week, the teams take everything they have learned and apply it to a leadership scenario which they present to the rest of the students in the program.
Skills:
Leadership is more than just raw talent and determination. While a portion of great leadership is aptitude, a great deal of what it takes to be a leader is skill based and can be learned. Participants in the program receive practical training in leadership skills from educators and successful leaders on subjects such as goal setting, conflict management, communication, problem solving, team work, and planning. Last year’s speakers represented many different aspects of leadership including a professor of leadership, a state congressperson, a diplomat and entrepreneur, a high school teacher, university administrators, business presidents, spiritual leaders, and others.
If you would like more information about the Oklahoma Leadership Academy or would like to nominate a student, please email: academy@oc.edu
