Leadership – Houghton STAR

By Jennifer Page

This past weekend, Houghton University held its fifth annual Activate Leadership Conference in the MVP lounge at the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex. During the two-day conference, students listened to presentations from Keynote Speaker Marlena Graves and Chair of Religion, Associate Dean of the Chapel and Adjunct Professor of Youth Ministry Rev. Dr. J.L. Miller; after which, they came up with their own proposal for positive change on Houghton’s campus.

“The Activate Leadership Conference,” said Rachel Wright, Director of the Office of Vocation and Calling and Associate Director of the Center for Student Success, “is an opportunity for students to explore their strengths, develop spiritual disciplines and practices and learn how to use their gifts and talents to create positive impact as leaders in their chosen fields.”

Unlike previous years, when only sophomores could attend the event, the Center for Student Success and Office of Vocation and Calling decided to open up this year’s registration to all Houghton Students.“My sisters participated in the conference their sophomore years and they encouraged me to go,” said junior Will Allen. “I’m very happy that it’s offered to all years now so that I didn’t miss out. I learned a lot about myself and how to work well with others who do not share my strengths.”

During the Saturday session, Allen and the other attendees got the chance to propose a Positive Change Project to a board of reviewers.

“Groups of students come up with an idea of something they want to address or offer either on campus or in the community, which is their proposal for positive change,” said Wright.

The students do not have to plan the proposal on their own, however. Student coaches (students who have previously attended the conference) ensure that the people on their team get everything they can out of the conference.

“I loved the experience of both leading and learning about leadership,” said junior Cody Johnson, one of the student coaches for this year’s conference. “It was a fun opportunity to network with people I might not see on campus any other time and grow together.”

“The Positive Change Project,” continued Johnson, “was a cool opportunity to brainstorm (or “ideate”) with other students about how we can positively influence something at Houghton. It is a reminder to all of us that students and young leaders have the power to implement, regardless of their position or ‘the way things have always been done.’” Although there is no way of telling if one of the Positive Change Projects will actually be implemented on campus, there is a precedent for it to happen, since both the Mosaic Center and the Campus Groups app started as Positive Change Projects. Perhapsanother idea first thought of at the conference will be implemented on campus in the coming year. ★

By Elise Koelbl

It was gone but not forgotten. After a year of strict COVID-19 guidelines forcing its absence, February 4 marks the return of the Sophomore Leadership Conference, just in time for it’s 5th year. The Sophomore Leadership Conference is an event for sophomore students to further understand their strengths and show them their abilities as a leader. This year’s theme is titled “Activate: Leadership, Gifts, and the Kingdom of God,” which is notably different than in past years where the theme was “Oh The Places You’ll Go.” This continues to be a program designed to promote leadership in young students.

The person in charge of organizing the event is Rachel Wright. When asked about the decision to direct this event towards sophomores, she stated, “This event has focused on the Sophomore year as students near the time to officially declare their major and there were already existing opportunities like Transitions, Senior Seminar courses, etc. for students during other years. Because of the pandemic, the event was canceled in 2021, so we are opening this year up to those who would have been Sophomores last year.” The event itself goes from the evening of Friday, February 4 to all day Saturday, February 5. There will also be an exclusive dinner with Kindschi Faith and Justice Symposium guest Rev. Dr. Soong-Chan Rah on Monday, February 7 for all of the conference attendees.

Adelaine Morgiewicz (‘24), who is currently a sophomore, plans to attend the event. Like many sophomores, she received an email from Houghton’s Office of Vocation and Calling informing her of this event. As someone who is still undecided in her major, she is excited to attend to gain a better understanding of herself as a leader.

Highlights of what is included at the conference with the $20 registration fee include: participants completing the Clifton Strengths Finder Assessment; students completing a Positive Change Project during the event, which can feasibly be enacted during their time as students; as well as Conference swag; and Saturday meals.

Guests this year include Dr. Greg Bish, the Keynote speaker, who is also the Chief of Staff at Houghton College; Dr. JL Miller, the Associate Dean of the Chapel at Houghton College; and the Strengths Coach, Dr. Ellen Marmon, a Professor of Christian Discipleship and the Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program and Asbury Theological Seminary, who will be Zooming in to the Conference; Sharon Mulligan, the Director of Academic Support and Accessibility Services at Houghton College, who will be leading an Ideation Session; and Rev. Dr. Soong-Chan Rah, a Robert Boyd Munger Professor of Evangelism at Fuller Theological Seminary, who will be having dinner with Conference participants on Monday.

The administration is excited the Sophomore Leadership Conference was able to return after its absence last year. With a variety of guest speakers, attendees will experience a helpful and informational event. ★