A group of about 50 students attended the First Annual Student Leadership Conference sponsored by the Office of Student Programs and AUSA that was held in mid-May.

The conference’s theme was “Lead Factor,” taken from the popular television show, “Fear Factor.” Braelin Pantel, graduate assistant for the Office of Student Programs and coordinator of the conference, said the theme was to highlight how the conference was going “to help [you] become a fearless leader” and face any obstacles.

“We wanted to provide some sort of leadership training for students, especially for new officers transitioning in the spring,” Pantel said. “We wanted [them] to learn useful and valuable things.”

Keynote speaker Patti Helton, associate provost for Campus Life, spoke about creativity in student leadership.

“Students need to inject creativity in the leadership positions they are in,” Helton said. “I think it helps them to run their organizations more efficiently and look at things from a different perspective.”

She showed a video featuring Dewitt Jones, photojournalist for National Geographic, who also talked about finding creativity in everyday tasks.

After Helton’s presentation, participants then attended sessions on various topics such as time management, accessing money from the student comptroller, creating a more inclusive student organization and programming. The sessions were based on what conference coordinators thought student leaders might need in their positions. Session leaders included students and administrative staff members.

The day ended with a “town meeting” and an ice cream social provided by DUPB in which participants came together to give feedback on the conference and the sessions.

Pantel said she was pleased with the turnout and thought the conference was a success.

“I think it was a good starting point,” Pantel said. “We will probably provide this conference again next year, although I’m not sure what form it will take. But I’ve gotten some good feedback about it.”