Thirteen Students Chosen for Randolph Community College Student Leadership Academy

Thirteen students have been chosen for Randolph Community College's third annual Student Leadership Academy based on a competitive process that considered leadership experience, leadership potential, and a letter of reference from a faculty member.

The Student Leadership Academy, which has been revamped this year from a one-day spring event to four evening sessions throughout the academic year, will offer students the opportunity to learn about leadership from local and regional leaders. Participants will have the chance to identify their own leadership styles and learn how to use these styles effectively. Students will create a personal portfolio, which will be reviewed by Human Resource professionals who will give feedback to assist in developing a more professional polish. One evening will be devoted to leadership and ethics. In addition, new this year, students will be involved in a Student Leadership Project.

"I hope to learn…new leadership skills that would help me succeed throughout college life," said RCC College Transfer student Roman Bogdanov in his Leadership Academy application. Bogdanov, a Russian exchange student who attended one year of high school in Randolph County, came back to America for college. "This academy would also help me to learn more about American culture and see a perspective of leadership from the American point of view."

Sarah Cooper, a Portrait Studio Management student chosen to attend the Academy, said, "As a future small business owner, I will need leadership skills as I deal with interns, assistants, and other business managers. …I also want to gain more self-confidence in my abilities to take on additional projects, such as fundraisers and partnerships, which will require leadership skills."

The dates for the 2009-10 Student Leadership Academy sessions are Thursday, Oct. 22, Tuesday, Nov. 17, Tuesday, Jan. 19, and Tuesday, April 13. Each student chosen has been asked to complete the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, a personality assessment. The students will meet with an RCC counselor personally to discuss the results, and there will be a discussion in the first Leadership session on personality types and leadership styles. The October session also will include a discussion about "What is Leadership" by Dr. Robert Shackleford, president of Randolph Community College, and an introduction to the Student Leadership Project.

Sponsors of this year's Student Leadership Academy are Dr. Stuart Fountain and Dr. Alan S. Luria.

The student members of the Randolph Community College 2010 Student Leadership Academy, their majors, and hometowns are as follows:
Kristine Beck, Randolph Early College High School, Franklinville
Daniel Billings, Randolph Early College High School, Thomasville
Roman Bogdanov, Associate in Arts (College Transfer), Franklinville
Sarah Jurek Cooper, Photographic Technology (Portrait Studio Management), Cary
Timothy Layne Crossno, Healthcare Management Technology, Trinity
Quyen Du, Randolph Early College High School, Archdale
Amber Grimmett, Associate Degree Nursing, Trinity
Tiffany Ashley Lucas, Healthcare Management Technology, Denton
Trista Marsh, Associate Degree Nursing, Siler City
Yoselin Perez Vallejo, Randolph Early College High School, Randleman
Greg Sumner, Entrepreneurship, Trinity
Ashley Nicole Taylor, Randolph Early College High School, Ramseur
Robbie White II, Business Administration, Asheboro