Educational Talent Search Group Goes on Leadership Summit Retreat

Educational Talent Search Group goes on Leadership Summit Retreat

Learning and Leadership Summit participants on the NSU Tahlequah campus
Participants in this year's Learning and Leadership Summit take a break on Northeastern State's
Tahlequah campus. The annual event is sponsored by the NSU Educational Talent Search and is
for high-school sophomores.

TAHLEQUAH The Northeastern State University Educational Talent Search recently held the Learning and Leadership Summit for high-school sophomores from around the area to get them excited and motivated about college.

"The Learning and Leadership Summit has a great impact on high school students," said Diane Walker, director of NSU Educational Talent Search. "They not only learn how to build their high school resume, but they also get the inside track on what it will take to be successful in college."

Students from Chouteau, Coweta, Hilldale, Inola, Kansas, Ketchum, Keys, Tahlequah, and Wagoner High School participated in the two-day retreat, held on the NSU campus and at the Thunderbird Lodge at Arrowhead Resort outside Tahlequah.

The ETS students were challenged to develop their leadership skills while working in a team environment, allowing them to utilize new abilities. "This camp helped me get out of my comfort zone and prove to myself that I can now step up in a leadership role," said Kailey Roberts, Coweta sophomore.

Participants were treated to a series of lectures and motivational speeches, leadership and team building exercises, and a campus scavenger hunt. They also learned different ways to pay for college and had the opportunity to meet with current NSU students.

"The Learning and Leadership Summit provides an opportunity for these outstanding high school students to develop their leadership skills, to diversify their high school experience, and ultimately help them become better prepared for college," said Ryan Eller, Educational Talent Search counselor.

The Educational Talent Search Program held the first Learning and Leadership Summit in 2004, with the intention of improving students' grades, ACT scores, and competitiveness for academic and leadership scholarships by showing them the opportunities available.

The Educational Talent Search program is serving 600 students from area middle and high schools. ETS provides college and career counseling and helps students recognize their strengths through educational, cultural, and adventure activities. The NSU-ETS program is a federally-funded TRIO program through the U.S .Department of Education.

6/15/2009

Published: 2009-06-15 00:00:00