“It’s not just what you learn in your classes. It’s what you learn about yourself. It’s your ability to recognize what you can do to improve the world and to take action that makes a difference.”
“It’s not just testing your knowledge of a subject, but testing your willingness to become involved. In the classroom and out, it’s laying the foundation for a lifetime of character.”
According to the organization’s Web site, this is the goal of the Appalachian Leadership Honors Program, Sonny Montgomery Chapter, which is in its first year at Mississippi State.
The program was one of President Robert “Doc” Foglesong’s first establishments at the university. Assistant dean Cade Smith assumed the director position for the program in July.
Smith described the Appalachian Leadership Honors Program as “a program to provide students with a transformative experience of their college career.”
He said the focus of the program is to give students a way to more effectively change things. The program highlights self-awareness, growth and transformation, he said.
The program is different than a traditional college leadership program. Rather than a retreat or a set of speakers, it is a two-year commitment with three parts content, action and speakers.
First-year fellows work on communication skills and interpreting how others communicate, learn personality/psychology information and discuss ethics and values. In year two, the focus is to put these elements into action.
Each fellow is paired with an adult mentor from the community. These mentors come from all kinds of backgrounds and have various jobs and careers.
The fellow’s mentor changes every semester, and the goal is for each student to personally know someone with experience and watch how he or she leads.
The action component of the program also involves service and leadership. Every fellow works with a program that interests him or her, like Palmer Home or Habitat for Humanity.
These programs are “follow-ships” in that the student follows and acts on something that he or she wishes to accomplish.
Speakers are the third aspect of the program. Appalachian Leadership Honors Program participants attend meetings once every other week.
Here they listen to a leader, whether from the community, state or national level.
As Smith pointed out, each speaker must be a credible person who is not just a leader but also a person of sound character and integrity.
Bill Kibler, vice president for student affairs, describes the program as an opportunity for students to learn in a variety of settings.
“The goal is to select students who have potential for leadership and to fast-forward that role,” he said.
“The students must be passionate about something, but they have to have leadership abilities,” Smith said.
He said he knows that these students must also increase their self-awareness in order to have a chance at implementing the change that they desire. The fellows must be willing to keep working and trying, especially when things become difficult.
One thing that makes the program unique is the broad slice of participants. While most organizations and clubs attract a very narrow scope of students, traits like strong character, sense of responsibility bigger than a sense of self and a willingness to work to achieve a goal are universal attributes.
Smith said he hopes that because of this the program will attract students from all backgrounds.
Psychology professor and Appalachian Leadership Honors Program board member Tom Carskadon notes that the program places a significant emphasis on recognizing and developing character.
SA Vice President Lee Weiskopf agrees.
“It goes beyond a normal leadership program. They find a person’s skills, hone them and strengthen them,” Weiskopf said. “They also develop strong character and that will carry you a long way.”