A group of Penn State Lehigh Valley students recently took part in a leadership training presented by nationally known collegiate leadership speaker Mike Fritz.
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Penn State Lehigh Valley students interested in enhancing their leadership skills took time out of their busy schedules to take part in a recent weekend training session.
Thirteen campus students attended the program, “From Good to Great: Growing the Leader in You,” presented by Mike Fritz, a nationally known collegiate leadership speaker. The five-hour training was open to any student interested in further developing their personal, professional and/or club leadership skills.
At the workshop, Fritz demonstrated several techniques students can employ to motivate and inspire others to carry out shared goals. The day included a substantial interactive component, and Fritz shared with the group his MADE approach to leadership, which stands for Motivation, Activation, Dedication and Evaluation.
“He completed an in-depth look at each of these areas and how they contribute to effective leadership,” said Assistant Director of Student Affairs Pam Fleck.
The workshop closed with Fritz challenging the students to take what they learned and put it into action by developing a set of three 90-day goals. A follow-up program assessment by the Student Affairs team will review the goals and student progress, according to Fleck.
Each student received a Penn State notebook to record important information from the training, as well as a certificate of completion and a copy of Fritz’s book, “Great Student Leaders Aren’t Born, They’re Made.”
Student Activities and Athletics Coordinator Sarah Pasetsky attended the training, and noted clear similarities between what the students learned and what she and other staff members are currently experiencing through the campus’s new Aspiring Leaders program.
“In both the professional program and Mike Fritz's program, the focus is on the importance of understanding individuals you are leading to truly make a difference,” Pasetsky said. “Mike is an extremely engaging speaker, and it was easy to understand and connect with everything he said. At the end of the session, he gave a great tool for the students to start working on as soon as they left that day and aid in their leadership journey.”
First-year PSU-LV student Edison Caceres agreed with Pasetsky, calling the program a “one-of-a-kind experience.”
“I’m very pleased with the outcome of the leadership program,” Caceres said. “Most people can define the word ‘leadership’ in a single sentence, but Mike Fritz demonstrated that the term is filled with various meanings, one that is unique to oneself. What I really enjoyed was the fact that everyone got individual attention. Mike allowed us each to share personal goals and gave us advice and actions that we could take to grow closer to these goals. This was especially meaningful to me. The sense of support was uplifting, and made me feel like I wasn't alone in my challenges.”
