The LEAD Scholars Program geared up for another great year of leadership development, social change projects, fun times at 麻豆原创 tailgates and many more campus events. This fall approximately 300 high-performing freshmen joined the LEAD Scholars team eager to become involved in the 麻豆原创 community.

Prior to the start of the fall semester, 80 of these students participated in the annual two-day REEL Retreat. The retreat consisted of team building exercises, values-based activities, leadership lessons, and an acclimation to the 麻豆原创 community.

鈥淩EEL helps the students immerse into the LEAD Scholars community. They become more open to opportunities and break out of their shell鈥hey become more open minded individuals,鈥� said Sang Lee, 2013 REEL Retreat counselor.

Binita Devkota, first year REEL Retreat participant, said, 鈥淎fter the retreat I felt closer to everyone in LEAD Scholars-it was a really great bonding experience with other freshmen. It was a lot easier to make friends once school started since I already made connections during the retreat.鈥�

LEAD Scholars had their first social change event at Devereux Florida on October 12. The students organized and participated in a Halloween party for the residents and staff of Devereux to serve mentally and physically challenged individuals. Their goal was to act as role models and continue to build long-term relationships with non-profit organizations in the Central Florida community. Approximately 40 LEAD Scholars participated in this event.

Social Change is a model of leadership that incorporates the individual, the group and society. Through the Social Change model, the students are able to develop a consciousness of self, citizenship, collaboration, serve with a common purpose and are committed to achieving their goal.

In the next two weeks, these same students will continue to hone their leadership abilities by running a Fall Festival at Keeth Elementary School. In November, they will contribute to a Thanksgiving dinner for Boys Town of Central Florida. Boys Town provides emergency and residential shelter for abused, abandoned and neglected children.

LEAD Scholars is a program in the Office of Student Leadership Development in the Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services.

LEAD Activities Director Hayden Kaehl said, 鈥淭he LEAD Scholars Family Weekend Brunch is a great opportunity for the family members of current LEAD Scholars to interact with their students and bond with fun activities, enjoy a delicious meal before the football game, and get acquainted with the parents and family members of other LEAD Scholar students.鈥�

Families were entertained with various contests and a video. Second year Chelsea Trynz said, 鈥淢y family really enjoyed seeing all of the connections that I have made within LEAD Scholars and how much I have grown as a leader since high school.鈥�

As plates of assorted lunch items made their way to tables and information about the LEAD Scholars Program was shared, families began to integrate with each other and expand a bigger family- the Knight family, just as the weekend hoped for.

LEAD Scholars is a program of Student Leadership Development in the Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services.

The highlight of the five-week journey was connecting with the Community Food & Outreach Center located on Michigan Street. The students learned about the many services provided by the agency. Once the presentation was over, students spent the rest of the day redistributing and packaging food to be dispensed to the various Florida community sites. One student remarked, 鈥淭he community service we did made me feel like I was doing something great.鈥�

The retreat offered 65 attendees opportunities to focus on themselves as students, leaders and the role that they play in the 麻豆原创 community, and to unite and strengthen the 麻豆原创 African American student leadership community.

Seven leadership sessions were facilitated during the retreat: Executive Board Training, Successful Programming, How to Heal Broken Ties, Expand Beyond the Black Hole, Planning a Successful Retreat, Fundraising-Beyond the Car Wash and Mentoring Relationships. These sessions offered retreat attendees tips, practical advice and value recommendations to achieve success. Participants also experienced canoeing, kayaking and sat around a campfire.

Freshman Ashley Spry summed up her retreat experience: 鈥淚鈥檝e been inspired and motivated just by being here with campus leaders. I have learned about organizations and programs that I don鈥檛 think I would have otherwise and I am grateful for the experience.鈥�

Students who attended the retreat will have the opportunity to participate in the Summer Leadership Refresher to reflect on their retreat experience and create a leadership action plan for the 2009-2010 academic year. The retreat was hosted by the Office of Student Leadership Development in the .