Freshmen leadership core project participants this spring are (seated, left-right) Laura Ewert, Devils Lake, N.D.; Emma Tyndall, Cando, N.D.; Rachel Caulfield, Grand Forks, N.D.; Aubrey Moen, Ada, Minn.; and Brady Eichelberger, Lakota, N.D. Standing are Remington Werner, Hector, Minn.; Lindsey Gonsior, Eagan, Minn.; Alyssa DeMars, Cavalier, N.D.; Ashley Ness, Ashby, Minn.; and Rochester Mugumbate, Harare Zimbabwe. Courtney Savage, West Fargo, N.D., was unavailable for the photo. The group is led by Terry Kemmer, coordinator of the Larson Leadership Program at Mayville State.
Eleven Mayville State freshmen are participating in a freshmen leadership core project this spring. The project is a part of MSU’s integrated leadership program which is funded by a grant from the Edson and Margaret Larson Foundation. The purpose of the program is to build the leadership characteristics needed to prepare all Mayville State University students to become future leaders for North Dakota.
The freshmen leadership core project is a spin-off of a leadership introduction that was part of the university’s Seminar on Success (SOS) course last fall. The SOS is required of all freshmen and a permanent component of the academic program. The one-credit class is designed to help students become acclimated to the university and community, and to teach skills that will help students achieve their goals while attending Mayville State, and beyond.
The participants in the freshmen leadership core this spring were nominated by the instructors of the SOS classes. Nominees were to have leadership potential and/or interest. SOS students were also encouraged to volunteer for the core if they had leadership ambition. The nominees and volunteers were then invited to join the core. Eleven freshmen accepted the invitation and are now members. The core has been meeting monthly for leadership training and discussion this spring.
The purpose of the freshmen leadership core project is to take this select group of freshmen and increase their awareness of and interest in leadership, and then encourage them to step up into leadership positions on the Mayville State campus and within the Mayville-Portland community and their respective home communities.