Topeka, Kan. — A record-number 44 high school and college teams from four states will be in Topeka March 5 and 6 to participate in the annual Washburn University Leadership Challenge EventTM (LCETM). The Washburn University Leadership Institute hosts this annual two-day leadership competition, which is open to high school and college students in the region, to showcase and promote innovative leadership development.
“The Leadership Challenge Event is the only event of its kind in the U.S., offering students a space to practice the leadership skills they will need when navigating challenges in the real world,” said Lauren Edelman, interim director of the Leadership Institute at Washburn University. “This year is particularly special, as we celebrate 10 years by bringing together the greatest number of student participants, community, and campus volunteers that we have ever seen.”
Almost 200 volunteers from the Shawnee County and Washburn University communities will participate in this live, real-world process of leadership simulation. Moreover, the students in the Leadership Institute have raised more than $45,000 in sponsorships to fund the LCE. Title sponsors include the Capitol Federal Foundation® and Evergy.
The leadership simulation will start at 8:00 a.m. Friday, March 6 at the Maner Conference Center at the Topeka Capital Plaza. Students will participate in planning and strategy meetings, written tasks, and individual and team leadership decisions. During this time, they will interact with volunteers role-playing as members. The simulation encompasses three rounds, all observed by judges who score participants’ leadership acumen on a variety of metrics, including a group presentation defending all their decisions at the conclusion of the exercises. The event concludes with an awards ceremony beginning at 3:45 p.m. in ExpoCentre Heritage Hall. This ceremony is open to the public.
Teams arrive Thursday, March 5, and will visit Washburn University, with an opportunity to hear from many influential leaders from the Topeka area. Thursday night will feature a celebratory banquet reflecting on 10 years of LCE and recognizing past key contributors to the event. The banquet will conclude with a keynote address by Veronica Byrd, Site Coordinator for the Pine Ridge Partnership Parents as Teachers program.
“The Leadership Challenge Event is a program unlike any other, in both structure and impact. The real-life components that encourage meaningful collaboration, interactive discussions, and experiential learning offer student participants the opportunity to practice leadership skills in a controlled environment,” said Claire Leffingwell, Washburn University senior Psychology major and the 2020 LCE Fellow. “The Leadership Challenge Event is entirely student-led.”
“As the 2020 Fellow, I have had the opportunity to mentor and lead current Washburn University students to recruit and train almost 200 volunteers, raise over $45,000 in sponsorships, and make sure all components of the event run smoothly. The Shawnee County community members who volunteer for the event are crucial, and we are so grateful for the support.”
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Editor’s Notes:
College Participants:
Arkansas Tech University
Baker University
Fort Hays State University
Kansas State University
McPherson College
Metropolitan Community College - Maple Woods
Midland University
Southwestern College
Union College
University of Nebraska-Lincoln (two teams)
Wartburg College
High School Participants:
Baldwin High School
Crest High School
Derby High School
Fort Scott High School
Hayden Catholic High School
Highland Park High School (two teams)
Mill Valley High School
Piper High School
Salina South High School
Seaman High School (two teams)
Shawnee Heights High School
Shawnee Mission Northwest High School
Silver Lake High School
Southeast of Saline High School
Topeka High School
Topeka West High School
Washburn Rural High School
Wellington High School
Wichita East High School
Wichita Heights High School
Wichita North High School (two teams)
Wichita Northeast Magnet High School (two teams)
Wichita Northwest High School (two teams)
Wichita South High School (two teams)
Wichita Southeast High School (two teams)
