Leadership Studies Minor Archives - Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

2020 College Students Change the World Forum

February 26, 2020 by Jonah Hall

2020 College Students Change the World Forum

The inaugural College Students Change the World Forum, sponsored by the Leadership Studies program within the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (ELPS), will take place March 7, 2020 from 1:00-6:30pm in Strong Hall.

The Forum brings together high school and college students for networking, visioning, critical thinking, and oral communication exercises that help students see themselves as leaders within their communities and promote the ability for students to make positive, responsible contributions.

“We hope this opportunity will give Knoxville students a glimpse into how college and leadership studies can help them be better student citizens, as well as inspire these students to make their own impact on their world,” said Dr. Karen Boyd, Associate Professor of Practice and ELPS Director of Undergraduate Education. The highlight of this event will be a keynote from Dr. Theotis Robinson, Jr., with the remainder of the afternoon including connection activities, project presentations from current Leadership Studies students, and a facilitated Deliberative Dialogue about leadership challenges.

You can view the event flyer below. Click the flyer to download a PDF copy that includes the full event schedule.

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Graduate Students Instrumental in Uniting Campus at the Rock

February 25, 2019 by Jonah Hall

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Graduate Students Instrumental in Uniting Campus at the Rock

The College of Education, Health and Human Sciences has two graduate students who were instrumental in developing this year’s United at the Rock event. Two of our Educational Leadership and Policy Study students made this event their capstone project; a project which allow students to synthesize and apply skills and content from across the leadership curriculum and their primary academic discipline to research, design, critique alternatives, propose a solution, and effect change in a leadership challenge or community problem needing leadership.

This year, students Jessyca Ford and Elaina Emery, each took a portion of this project. Ford tackled the task of getting the word out or the Word of Mouth Campaign so that everyone who wished could participate. Emery was challenged with the task of organizing the Volunteer Fair for the event which included over 150 participants which she worked in collaboration with the Center for Leadership and Service.

Enjoy their efforts in these videos and join us in congratulating these two students on a job well done.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVvBQg3oL2g?feature=oembed]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zBUzyiKEx4?feature=oembed]

Honors Leadership Program Student Leads Vex U Robotics Team to World Championship and International Community Service Award in its First Year

August 21, 2018 by Jonah Hall

Honors Leadership Program Student Leads Vex U Robotics Team to World Championship and International Community Service Award in its First Year

It is common to find Leadership Studies minor students in the traditionally recognized student leadership positions and honors. Each graduating class of the Leadership Studies minor, since its inception in Fall 2015, has included at least one TorchBearer and Chancellors Honors Award recipients including 2 Extraordinary Campus Leadership and Service recipients. By its 4^th graduating class in Spring 2019, the LSM alumni will include 5 student government executive officers (including 2 presidents and 2 vice presidents) and a President of the Panhellenic Council. It might be helpful to share that in addition to our students graduating as exemplary student leaders, this year a freshman pursuing the honors leadership studies minor and a member of the inaugural Honors Leadership Program shows what our students can do with a little support and nudge.

Grant Kobes – a first year Honors Leadership Program student completing an assignment for his first foundations of leadership course within the minor – created a strategic leadership plan to found and serve as the chief engineer for UTK’s Vex U Robotics Team, YNOT. Grant secured a team mentor and started a new student organization after writing a budget, constitution, holding interest meetings/ individual member skills evaluations/ and officer elections. His team spent the fall serving as volunteer referees and judges at high school events in order to gain experience with game strategy. With no sponsor or work space, Grant and his teammates created their first robot iteration in the floor of his dorm room! Team YNOT had an amazing first season, ranking 5th in world in autonomous programming and driver skills, and competing at the 2018 Vex Robotics World Championship.

One of Grant’s top leadership goals is reflected in Team YNOT’s mission statement: a focus on mentoring younger teams in the Knoxville community. Their work last year included creating an alliance of more than 15 area high school teams, all of which were personally coached by UTK’s team members. The impact of this collaboration was recognized and praised by judges, resulting in team YNOT receiving the prestigious Community Award at this year’s World Championship. This award is presented to the university level team that has demonstrated the most meaningful leadership and influence toward promoting STEM education in their local community. Grant’s goal is to use competitive robotics to recruit the most talented high school students from the Knoxville area to the Tickle College of Engineering in the coming years.

Grant was also honored with an invitation to attend the 2018 Vex Robotics Event Partner Summit in Greenville, Texas. This all-expense paid trip allowed leaders in Vex robotics from around the world a chance to meet at Vex headquarters to discuss the coming season. As the youngest attendee in Vex history, Grant connected with many key individuals at both the state and national level.

This summer, Grant recruited over 50 new members while promoting his team at 11 of 13 orientation sessions. His leadership philosophy focuses on personally getting to know each perspective student’s strengths and interests so that he can help them become a valued team member. Grant invites anyone interested to contact him at gkobes@vols.utk.edu or the team Instagram @YNOTrobotics.