Dr. Marilyn Hadley
Area youth will attend the “Turning a Setback into a Comeback” Region IV Student Leadership Conference at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Friday, Nov. 18.
The youth include 5th and 6th graders who have shown leadership potential in their schools by being involved in leadership roles such as student council, as well as students recommended for the event by their teachers.
The students will begin the daylong event with a welcome from UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen at the Nebraskan Student Union, followed by a keynote address from nationally-known speaker and author Ron Gustafson.
Gustafson is a Nebraska native who has made a career out of motivating and encouraging others. As a boy, Gustafson lost his right arm and shoulder in a farm accident, but was able to go on to become a successful basketball player for his high school team. He is the author of the motivational book Fully Armed.
His keynote address is the theme for this year’s leadership conference, “Turning a Setback Into a Comeback.” The major points that he touches on include getting past the ‘garbage’ in life, never giving up and having the courage to face the next challenge.
After the keynote address, students will break up into small groups to discuss the message and then have lunch.
The afternoon will consist of a series of sessions in which the youth attending will get the chance to experience nine different workshops in buildings around campus.
Fine Arts Building- Gary Schaaf, a professor in the Department of Music & Performing Arts, will give a dance demonstration, and students will get to go behind the scenes with Janice Fronczak, an assistant professor of theatre, to tour the UNK Theatre including the theatre house, backstage and control booth and learn how UNK puts on a theatre production.
Otto Olson Building- Terry Gibbs, senior lecturer in the Department of Industrial Technology, will demonstrate how to fly a plane using the department’s new flight simulator and the excitement of working in the airway science field.
Copeland Hall- Psychology professor Dr. Bill Wozniak will take students on an auditory and visual localization called, “Ears, Eyes and You.”
Bruner Hall Planetarium- Dr. Jose Mena-Werth, professor of physics and physical science, will take youth leaders on a journey of the planets and stars.
Calvin T. Ryan Library- Mary Rittenhouse, director of the Center for Economic Education, will involve students in hands-on economics activities.
College of Education Building- Shelley Haberlan, director of computer technology for the College of Education, will take students through a demonstration of the SmartBoard and other technologies used to preparing teachers for classrooms of their own.
Cushing Coliseum- Eve Scantling, a senior lecturer in physical education and recreation, will involve students in activities that stress leadership and the necessity to work as a team.
Nebraskan Student Union- Cami Wacker, associate director of student development/retention, will take students on a tour of several areas in the Nebraskan Student Union and discuss student leadership development at UNK.
The 5th and 6th graders attending the leadership conference represent the following schools:
Ayr- Ayr Public School
Centura- Centura Elementary
Chapman- Chapman Elementary
Doniphan- Doniphan Elementary
Franklin- Franklin Elementary
Grand Island- Cedar Hollow Public School, Stolley Park Elementary
Hastings- Alcott Elementary, Hawthorne Elementary, Lincoln Elementary,
Longfellow Elementary, Morton Elementary, Raymond A Watson
Elementary
Kearney- Bryant Elementary, Central Elementary, Emerson Elementary,
Glenwood Elementary, Horizon Middle School, Kenwood Elementary,
Meadowlark Elementary, Northeast Elementary, Sunrise Middle School
Lexington- Bryan Elementary, Lexington Middle School, Morton Elementary,
Pershing Elementary, Sandoz Elementary
Omaha- J Sterling Morton Elementary
Pleasanton- Pleasanton Elementary
Ravenna- Ravenna Elementary
Shelton- Shelton Elementary
St. Paul- St. Paul Elementary
Trumbull- Trumbull Elementary
