Penn State Altoona launches new student leadership program

Monday, January 7, 2013 - 335 hits

ALTOONA — Penn State Altoona will launch its newest student enrichment program, Leadership for Life (LFL), on January 12 when the inaugural class meets for a kick-off retreat. The class then will meet biweekly for the spring semester.

LFL is a civic engagement program, designed to inspire and prepare students to get involved in their communities as young adults. The program will cover topics such as: economic development and the business community; networking; board service and elected office; fundraising for non-profits; issues in our society; leaving a legacy; critical thinking; teamwork; goal setting; how to make an impact your first few years out of college, and more. Sessions will include presentations by community and business leaders from Blair County as well as the Pittsburgh area.

Conceived by Shari Routch, director of University Relations at the college, the LFL concept is based upon the Blair County Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Blair County (LBC) Program, of which Routch is a 1998 graduate and former program Chairperson. LBC, which initially served only the adult population, now includes a high school program, LBC Youth, but not a collegiate program. Routch hopes that the Penn State Altoona program will be a model for other Penn State campuses, as well as colleges in this area.

The nineteen members of the inaugural LFL class were selected by the LFL steering committee based upon a rigorous application process. The program is open to all Penn State Altoona students, regardless of major or year in college. The program will be facilitated by Tom Baker, Chief Community Affairs Officer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh, President of Baker Leadership, and author of Get Involved! Making the Most of Your 20s and 30s and Get Involved! Give Our Passion.

For more information about the LFL program, visit www.altoona.psu.edu/leadership.