Recently the University of Mount Olive sent three representatives to the annual Conference Carolinas Leadership Forum in High Point, N.C. This year UMO sent Odyssey Program Leader and tennis assistant coach Kourtney Chumbley along with men's cross country/track and field student-athlete Brady Deaner and women's track and field student-athlete Taylor Moncrief to the forum.
The Conference Carolinas Leadership Forum allows for each conference school to send two student-athletes plus a coach/administrator to engage in activities in self-esteem, confidence building, values, and vulnerability. During the weekend, University of North Carolina's Associate Director of Athletics for Student-Athlete Development Dr. Cricket Lane and Duke University's Assistant Director of Athletics for Student-Athlete Development Leslie Barnes led the participants through communication activities which assessed their individual values and conflict resolution approaches. The student-athletes and coaches/administrators learned studied author Brene Brown's research about the importance of vulnerability in interpersonal relationships and leadership. They also learned about mindfulness and the importance of taking care of yourself so you may come to the aid of others.
"It was a great experience! I hope to enlighten the [Odyssey Leadership] program as well as my team with the knowledge I have learned," said Moncrief.
The representatives will bring back what they have learned to their own campuses and enact plans of action to help build more leaders on their campuses and communities. UMO's representatives will also give a presentation on the topics covered at the summit to the Odyssey Leadership Program later this year.
"Overall, the forum was an excellent opportunity for each of these student-athletes to assess their personal values and learn more about what makes them a great leader. We explored the importance of self-esteem, confidence, personal values and vulnerability in leadership. Our university's student-athletes, Brady Deaner and Taylor Moncrief, each represented Mount Olive with excellence as they asked questions, took initiative and participated in leadership activities.
"It was a wonderful weekend to see so many universities in our conference represented and to meet developing young leaders and coaches. It was a visual representation of what makes Conference Carolinas great," said Chumbley.