Impactful Leadership Starts Here

Awa Sallah

In September, the Mount hosted a Leadership Summit for student leaders. Over 50 student leaders attended the summit. The current Student Government Executive Board members and club presidents attended this event. 

The leadership summit is held to lead and inspire students and teach them what it means to be a leader and how to use the skills in their personal and professional life. The theme this year originated from the scripture Ephesians 2:10 “or we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

The Mountain Echo spoke with a few leaders here at the Mount to share their thoughts about the event and how their experience was this year. 

Kevin Turner, former director of the Center for Leadership and Community Connections and the SGA advisor said, “The summit was created to provide opportunities for leadership for Mount students.” 

It had three breakout sessions, a networking session and guest speakers to talk about leadership. “This was the first summit we had at this magnitude,” remarked Turner. He hopes that student leaders take the notes and pass onto the next generation of leaders. It was a “meaningful experience," according to Turner.  

Regarding qualities she hopes students to develop from this summit, Vice President of Student Life Stephanie Kelley said that there was not a specific goal in mind , but the theme was to “help students understand their gifts and talents how they can use these talents serve the world.”

Kelly believes that everyone can be a leader, either a parent or being a leader at the community and work to make a difference.  

SGA Vice president Leila Jefferson (C’27) hopes that the summit can shape leaders, help them learn from the experts and seek knowledge about their role as leaders on campus. One lesson she learned at the summit was to take good ideas and make them yours... “ideas made 10 years ago will not have the same groundwork today.” 

This year's summit seemed to be a huge success. Students and administrators hope that it has inspired Mount students to become effective leaders that can make a difference in this world.