Annual Report 1301 Columbia College Drive | Columbia, SC 29203 803.786.3729 | leadership@columbiasc.edu | columbiasc.edu/institute
Summer Leadership Institute 2014 Annual Report prepared by the Institute for Leadership & Professional Excellence at Columbia College
Executive Summary
Leadership is in the DNA of Columbia College – it is infused into all facets of student experiences and it is a hallmark of our College. In July 2013, Columbia College launched the Institute for Leadership and Professional Excellence. The Institute represents the merger of two existing divisions: the former Leadership Institute and the Center for Engaged Learning. These divisions were combined with the launch of new, key centers and initiatives for the College to better serve our students and community. The Center for Leadership, which assumed all of the functions of the former Leadership Institute, prepares women of all ages to assume leadership roles within their professions and communities, to lead innovation and change throughout their lives, and to be effective and principled leaders in a global society. In achieving this mission, one of the largest faucets of The Center for Leadership focus is the continued growth and support of leadership development for the next generation of women leaders: K‐12th grade young women. Outreach to young, pre‐college women is a key component of the Center for Leadership’s success, including programs embedded in local school districts and signature summer residential leadership institutes on campus. The Center serves as a resource and advocate by offering specially tailored programming as well as by fostering a peer network among professional women. These combined efforts enable the College to serve women at three stages of leadership and create a network of leaders at all stages. The Center’s efforts lay the groundwork for building personal, organizational and servant leadership skills, all of which translate into her future career and life.
Overview
Core Mission: Addressing Needs of Young Women in the Southeast
Columbia College’s Summer Leadership Institute has inspired and propelled young women leaders for 24 years. Since 1990, when the first institute was offered, we have served more than 1,500 young women in South Carolina and beyond. The Summer Leadership Institute is a signature program of the Institute for Leadership & Professional Excellence at Columbia College, and it is comprised of three week‐long programs housed on our campus. The series motivates and empowers middle and high school‐aged young women to become effective leaders. It provides participants with skill‐cultivating opportunities in communication, conflict resolution, problem solving, goal setting, decision making, team‐building and all necessary tools for academic and personal success.
Columbia College’s Summer Leadership Institute lays the groundwork for change in our state by empowering young women to become effective leaders. Ingrained in the design of all three institutes is the philosophy that leadership is not the position you hold but the difference you make. We believe that all young people have the capacity for leadership, and that capacity must be identified, fostered and encouraged. Research demonstrates that indicators of girls’ leadership decline in high school. This includes a decline in girls’ inclination to speak out in class, attempt new tasks, take advanced math and science coursework, address controversial issues or run for office as well as a decline in girls’ education and career aspirations. 2
Summer Leadership Institute 2014 Annual Report prepared by the Institute for Leadership & Professional Excellence at Columbia College Changes in non‐behavioral indicators include a drop in confidence levels, difficulty with decision making, increased worrying about body image, and grave concerns about "fitting in." Despite the fact that these indicators are recognized by parents, teachers and guidance counselors, there are few supportive environments for girls to talk with one another about the pressures that lead to decreased leadership, talk with role models about how to address these pressure, and set goals for different and positive outcomes in their high school experience. We believe that changing South Carolina girls' ideas and aspirations for leadership will change the state’s indicators of limited status of women. Our Summer Leadership Institute continues to foster an environment for young women to become the change‐agents against this pattern. In 2014, Columbia College hosted the following three week‐long summer residential programs on our campus: Step Up: Designed for rising ninth grade girls with a focus on developing fundamental leadership competencies that can be applied in high school. Step In: Created with the goal of identifying and further developing leadership competencies for girls currently in high school (rising 10‐11th grades), core themes include identifying and applying strengths to team work environments while becoming more involved in high school leadership opportunities. Step Above: Crafted for the high school girl ready to embrace her future in leadership, this camp focuses on how to create the greatest impact in the last years of high school and create a game plan for her individual future endeavors. Designed for rising 11 and 12th graders.
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Summer Leadership Institute 2014 Annual Report prepared by the Institute for Leadership & Professional Excellence at Columbia College
Summer Leadership Institute Goals
1) Increase Summer Leadership Institute participation: a. Increase participation for Step Up and Step In by 10% over 2013. b. Reinstate the senior camp program (Step Above) with a core participation of 15 young women (which was cancelled in the previous year due to low enrollment). 2) Increase participating girls’ growth and awareness in the following leadership competencies: Problem solving Understand her leadership style Goals setting, organization and follow through Conflict resolution and management skills Assertiveness Identifying herself as a leader Understanding impact of peer pressure on Working with others in a team girl’s self‐perception Values and ethical decision making Presentation skills Understanding her strengths Empathy Speaking in front of a group 3) Increase marketing reach by designing and implementing a comprehensive multi‐channel marketing campaign. 4) Benchmark previous Summer Leadership Institute goals, curriculum, impact surveys and parent feedback to successfully design and implement curriculum that is relevant and impactful. 5) Position Columbia College as the regional center of excellence for all summer leadership programs for young women, ages 12‐ 18 (five‐year goal). 6) Strengthen Columbia College’s role as a conduit between young women, college students and executive women through the Summer Leadership Institute. 7) Ensure program sustainability through new and diversified grant, sponsorship and in‐kind donation cultivation (three‐year goal).
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Summer Leadership Institute 2014 Annual Report prepared by the Institute for Leadership & Professional Excellence at Columbia College
Curriculum Overview
The 2014 program was refreshed with entirely new curricula that are relevant, impactful and exciting to the young women who attend. The three institutes were held at Columbia College during the summer (when middle and high schools in the super‐regional areas are out of school). Each program focuses on a different age group, learning objectives and activities as follows:
Step Up (June 15‐18, 2014) Designed for rising 9th grade girls ready to embrace the courage to lead. Her foundation for leadership begins.
Step In (August 3‐8, 2014) Designed for rising 10‐11th grade girls ready to commit and champion her own unique leadership talents. She develops her framework for leadership.
•What is Leadership? Girls learn about the four steps of leadership and their own personal identities through an age‐ appropriate assessment (True Colors) and fun, interactive activities that explore their own color type. •Basic Leadership: Girls learn to work with others in their age group and begin the steps toward building self‐awareness. Girls will have opportunities to interact with different experts and discover their interests. •Foundations of Leadership: Interactive and engaging workshops that explore the basics of leadership, which include making healthy decisions and forming healthy habits (examples ‐‐ exercise, food, working with other people, etc).
•Leadership Framework: Using the Strength Finders assessment, girls will discover their strengths and learn how to use their strengths in teams and leadership roles. •Strength in Diversity: Through various activities, girls will have the opportunity to work with other girls in diverse settings and learn more about how to manage different leadership styles and strengths. •Building Leadership: Interactive workshops in which students will identify ways to support each other and learn more about the community/ environment in which they live and go to school. This will include working together to identify an opportunity to volunteer and make a measurable impact in their life.
Step Above (August 3‐8, 2014) Designed for rising 11‐12th grade girls ready to apply her leadership skills in the real world. She will practice and put into action fundamental leadership skills to make her future‐ready. •Leadership Refinement: Participants will work with personalized Kuder Career Journey assessments to identify their career strengths. In addition, girls will begin to explore many different career opportunities and college life. •Servant Leadership: Girls will explore what it means to model servant leadership and identify a need in the community and implement a project to help create a solution. •Future Ready: Students will have hands‐on activities with career coaches and practice etiquette skills, resume and college applications, essays and interviews.
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Summer Leadership Institute 2014 Annual Report prepared by the Institute for Leadership & Professional Excellence at Columbia College Each program incorporates a blended‐learning approach to learning including team‐based case studies, interactive workshops, assessment inventories, powerful women role models and guest speakers, community service and personal and group feedback throughout the week, culminating with a graduation ceremony in front of a parent audience. Leadership skills cultivated include critical thinking, team building, diversity, goal setting, time management, healthy living, organization and communication.
Marketing & Selection Process
To complement the revitalized curricula and updated name changes for the Summer Leadership Institute, marketing strategies were also enhanced to increase participation in all three programs. Updated brochures were printed and mailed to all high and middle school guidance counselors and principals within a three‐hour driving radius from Columbia College, including public, private and charter schools. Advertisements and promotional blurbs were printed in Palmetto Parent and placed online with American Camp Association, The Free Times newspaper, TheState.com, wistv.com and palmettoparent.com (Midlands and Lowcountry), as well as various community calendars. School visits took place in the Greenville and Columbia areas. In addition, camps were promoted at two conferences: Palmetto State Guidance Association Conference (PSSCA) and the PTA State Conference. Participation in the Summer Leadership Institute is by invitation or nomination. Students are nominated by high school and middle school guidance counselors, principals, parents, family members and community leaders based on their leadership readiness. We received nearly 1,000 nominations for the series of three programs. We accept a maximum of 50 in Step Up; 50 in Step In and 25 in Step Above to ensure individual attention; it is our strategic goal to exceed the maximum to be able to add additional weeks of these programs in the future. The intentional leadership experience, supported by a repertoire of women leaders, a network of support, and a set of leadership skills, provides important leadership grounding. These young women have the potential to change the leadership landscape of our state and beyond.
Partnerships
Our partnerships with community organizations were critical to our success this year. Youth Corps: YouthCorps students served on the “High School 101” panel for the Step Up camp. We referred students to each other’s program and will continue to stay in touch during the year. Rotary Youth Leadership Conference: RYLA launched its first conference at Columbia College, which we were proud to support and, in turn, nominate young women who were part of RYLA for the Summer Leadership Institute. Greenwood Women’s Leadership Council: We’ve enjoyed a long‐time partnership with the WLC, this year including their support of Step Up by sponsoring two young leaders to attend. The Council completed its own competitive selection process for the sponsorships. The Council plans to continue providing on‐going endorsement for Greenwood young women to participate in the Summer Leadership Institute in 2015 and 2016. South Carolina United Methodist Conference: We worked with the UMC Conference to send information to youth pastors around the state, in addition to sharing information during Columbia College’s visits to UMC churches around the state. Last year, nearly 20 churches were visited. Palmetto State School Counselors Association: We attended PSSCA’s annual conference as an exhibitor and made connections across the state. Junior Leadership Kershaw County: The Center for Leadership’s professional staff team serves as guest facilitators for Junior Leadership Kershaw County’s kickoff session each year. We provide a leadership assessment workshop and share information about the Summer Leadership Institute. 6
Summer Leadership Institute 2014 Annual Report prepared by the Institute for Leadership & Professional Excellence at Columbia College
Parent Teacher Association of South Carolina: We attended the PTA’s annual conference as an exhibitor to make connections across the state. The following school districts promoted the Summer Leadership Institute through our partnership with the Columbia College Girls Empowered program: o Orangeburg Five: In an extension of our Girls Empowered program in Orangeburg, the school district sponsored three young women to attend the camps. o Richland Two o Lexington Five Girl Scouts – Mountains to Midlands Council: GSMMC shared information about our camps with their scouts and also served as a guest speaker, sharing information about the Girl Scouts’ #BanBossy campaign. The following organizations hosted students for volunteer projects and job shadow experiences: o Harvest Hope Food Bank o Ronald McDonald House o Transitions Center o Saluda Shoals Park o SCANA o Marriott Hotel o LLE Construction, LLC Columbia Country Club: Columbia Country Club serves as our host for the Step Above golf clinic. Two Columbia Country Club women members served as guest speakers. The following Columbia College departments were instrumental in the program: o Columbia College Golf Team o Office of Financial Aid o Division of Student Affairs o Office of Residential Life o Sodexo: Columbia College Dining Services and Facilities o Office of Admissions Grant funding partners provided financial need‐based scholarships to students: o Nord Family Foundation o Lipscomb Family Foundation: Funding also supported technology enhancements to the camp series o Self Family Foundation o Wells Fargo: Funding also supported job shadow experiences for Step Above program
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Summer Leadership Institute 2014 Annual Report prepared by the Institute for Leadership & Professional Excellence at Columbia College
Successes & Results: Top of Line
The summer residential leadership institutes have a 24‐year track record of not only making a difference in the lives of young women participants in the program, but also connecting these young women to peer and aspirational role models ‐‐ the college students who serve as counselors and the professional women who serve as speakers and coaches. We employ the following evaluation methods: Pre‐ and post‐program impact assessments that include rating, comment and short essay opportunities. Daily surveys to gauge program effectiveness, participant engagement and growth of participants over the week. A formal impact evaluation is completed several months after the completion of the program to assess long‐term impact. We also stay in touch informally with the participants year‐round. This year we are implementing a purposeful communication plan with the participant alumni that includes at least quarterly personalized communication. Parent feedback through interactions leading up to camp, parent orientation and during graduation and check out. Survey results from previous programs demonstrate that participation in the institutes has had a critical, long‐term impact on leadership outcomes. Attendees report: Increased confidence in their leadership abilities Increased awareness of community/organizational needs Elevated self‐confidence: I can make a difference Motivation for leadership Understanding of healthy relationships ‐‐ including the relationship with herself Inclination to meet new people and try new things Appreciation for diversity An increase in effectiveness 2014 Standout Data Points
950
•Young women were nominated by community leaders to participate in the Summer Leadership Institute. In addition, young women were also nominated through Girls Empowered, Columbia College Math & Science Days, United Methodist Conference of South Carolina and the Columbia College Admissions Department.
156 •Young women applied to attend the Summer Leadership Institute.
105 | 66% increase •Young women attended this summer ‐ a 66% increase as compared to last year's participation rate. 63 young women participated in the Summer Leadership Institute in 2013. 68 volunteers | 275 volunteer hours •More than 68 guest speakers and volunteers joined us for the Summer Leadership Institute, giving more than 275 volunteer hours and more than $6,200 in in‐kind time resources toward the programs. 8
Summer Leadership Institute 2014 Annual Report prepared by the Institute for Leadership & Professional Excellence at Columbia College Regional Reach Among 105 Campers
21% Out of State 37% State Wide
28% Local 14% Midlands
Additional Highlights The Center for Leadership staff team placed an emphasis on personalized communication strategies, which included a 24‐hour personal phone call and email turn‐around time and to ensure efficient customer service. This directly correlates to a high conversation rate of applicants to participants: 67% College student engagement: 12 Columbia College students filled 22 summer counselor positions. Three additional students served as summer program staff and guest facilitators for the campers. New experiences offered to this summer’s campers and their families: o A variety of wellness activities were offered each morning of the camps, including running, walking, yoga and “un gym” workouts. o Team building at Saluda Shoals Park o Job shadow at three companies – SCANA, Marriott Hotel and LLE Construction o Golf outing at Columbia Country Club o Camp “takeaways” including memory books, smash books and vision boards o Parent orientation, family campus tours and volunteer valets provided the “purple carpet treatment” to ease nerves of first‐time or new campers and their parents. o “Girl Talk” PJ Party and Ice Cream Social o Movie and popcorn, featuring women’s empowerment documentaries o Special dinner with Columbia College President o New residence hall location, McNair Hall, which was completely renovated in 2012 o More than a triple increase in the amount of guest speakers and community woman leaders who interacted with the girls Social media: The Center for Leadership launched its own portfolio of social media channels with the launch of the rebranded Center in 2013. This summer, we fully embraced social media by using Facebook to communicate and share updates with parents and Instagram to share with campers. We also used a new service called Tagboard to assemble the posts with the hashtags for all three camps. Finally, we developed photo videos for each of the camps, which were shown during the graduation ceremonies and available on our social channels. Last but certainly not least…fun: Instilling a strong sense of leadership among our clients is our charge, but equally so is making sure they have an enjoyable – and fun – experience. We designated time regularly in our planning sessions to make sure that not only were the camps going to be fun for the campers but also for our college student staff and even the professional staff. Keeping fun “close to the heart” was a key part of our overall success. 9
Summer Leadership Institute 2014 Annual Report prepared by the Institute for Leadership & Professional Excellence at Columbia College
Successes & Results By Camp th Step Up: The Step Up leadership program for rising 9 grade young leaders was successfully conducted June 15‐20, 2014. Achievements included the following: Total Participants: 49 campers; all rising 9th graders – a 38% increase in campers from 2013. Strong regional reach with 37% of participants from the local and midlands area. In addition, 25% of the campers were from out of state. Program Highlights: All girls created a leadership memory board to take home reflecting the team building, networking and leadership skill building that was developed throughout the week, a new addition to the camp program. Participants also had the opportunity to hone their speaking and presentation skills, work closely in teams throughout the week and volunteer at the Harvest Hope Food Bank. Highest rated activities on impact surveys: Health & Wellness (Zumba), True Colors Assessment, volunteering at Harvest Hope Food Bank and team building at Saluda Shoals. Graduation Ceremony: Students were divided into four teams, and they created a skit addressing a community issue and solution. Topics included self‐esteem, bullying and conflict resolution. Highest Rated Results reported from Step Up campers on a Scale of 0‐5 (5 being the greatest impact); 100% survey participation rate: o Understanding my Leadership Style (4.34) o Speaking in front of a group (4.32) o Learning more about my leadership gifts (4.3) o Working with others (4.28) Average overall learning increase in all targeted leadership competences: 4.14 (on a scale of 5).
Step In: Step In and Step Above ran concurrently August 3‐8, 2014. Both programs were strategically scheduled for the first week in August to allow more time for high school students to earn summer money for camp, as well as to avoid major vacation/holiday weeks. Total Participants: 35 rising 10th and 11th grade young women participated – a 23% increase over last year. Regional Reach: Very strong state‐wide attendance. The majority of participants were from the Columbia and Orangeburg areas of the state. Regional area included Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. Program Highlights: Step In women had the opportunity to learn about servant leadership and team work during the week. Students took a trip to Saluda Shoals Park to work on team building exercises and volunteered at one of three non‐profit organizations: Harvest Hope, Ronald McDonald House and Transitions. Each participant also received her own personal scrapbook journal, along with materials to collect throughout the week, for her to capture her own messages and notes about her own personal leadership goals. Highest rated activities on impact surveys: Communicate with Style, Women’s Issues Discussion Panel, Team Building at Saluda Shoals, Service Project and the Girl Talk Pajama Party. Highest Rated Results reported from Step In campers on a Scale of 0‐5 (5 being the greatest impact); 100% survey participation rate: o Understanding my strengths (4.85) o Identifying myself as a leader (4.68) o Understanding my leadership gifts (4.62) o Understanding the impart of peer pressure on Girl’s Self Esteem (4.59) Average overall learning increase in all targeted leadership competences: 4.45 on a scale of 5. 10
Summer Leadership Institute 2014 Annual Report prepared by the Institute for Leadership & Professional Excellence at Columbia College
Step Above: This year’s record number of 21 young women for Step Above includes another success point – Step Above’s predecessor, Lead Now, did not take place in 2013. This year, the program was revitalized with new opportunities for young women interested in polishing their leadership skills in preparation for their future after college. Total Participants: 21 rising 11th and 12th grade young women. Regional Impact: 52% of participants were from the midlands area. Out‐of‐state representation included North Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Pennsylvania. Program Highlights: We partnered with the Columbia College Golf Team and Columbia Country Club to provide a golfing and networking experience. Young women learned golf basics including driving, chipping and putting, in addition to playing a practice round. All students participated in a job shadow at one of three companies (SCANA, Marriott or LLE Construction Group). Girls were placed in groups according to their career assessment results. Throughout the week, Step Above students worked on a vision board, which serves as a long‐standing visual representation of her future as a leader. Highest rated activities on impact surveys: #Shhh, Let’s Stop the Fat Talk: Women and self‐esteem discussion panel in which three women executives shared their high school experiences; Getting to Yes; Thinking Win‐Win, Job Shadowing and Golf Clinic. Highest Rated Results reported from Step Above campers on a Scale of 0‐5 (5 being the greatest impact); 100% survey participation rate: o Understanding my leadership style (4.88) o Identifying myself as a leader (4.69) o Understanding the impact of media on Girls Self Esteem (4.69) o Goal setting and following through (4.63) o Empathy (4.63) Average overall learning increase in all targeted leadership competences: 4.44 on a scale of 5.
In Her Words | Testimonials from SLI Participants
Step Up I learned a lot about being a team and helping others. Harvest Hope Food Bank – I enjoy helping others. Also, I got the feeling that I was helping others that were in the time of need. Meeting new people are the most memorable memories I will treasure from this camp. I realized am very fortunate to have what I have. I need to stop being picky with what I eat because a lot of people don’t have that choice at all. When we learned about our true colors, I took a step back and really looked at myself as a whole. I realized that my true color really described me, other people and how other people see me. Meeting new people and girl talk! My favorite activity? All of them! 11
Summer Leadership Institute 2014 Annual Report prepared by the Institute for Leadership & Professional Excellence at Columbia College Step In I loved learning about my strengths and how they are applicable in my everyday life I loved meeting new people. I really enjoyed the #StepInPositivity on Instagram – I know that if I am ever feeling down, I can do look at the comments and it will make me feel better about myself. Step Above My favorite activities this week were the golf outing, job shadowing, and the vision boards. The first two allowed me to learn new things and meet people who can help me later in life, and the vision boards helped me express myself. Jobs shadows. Firsthand knowledge at a job site. Golf outing. Great speakers. Movie night. Time to let out what we hold in and don't share with other people. My favorite activity this week would be "Shh Let’s Stop the Fat Talk." This was fantastic information. The guest speakers were incredible women. The experience as a whole brought all of the campers, Step In and Step Above, much closer. Job Shadowing. The place I went to made me very interested, and I really liked the workplace, and would even consider working there in the future. My favorite activity this was the golfing outing. I had never golfed before and I turned out to love it.
2015 Goals & Next Steps Growth
•Maximize occupancy numbers for all three camps by 2015‐2016. •Provide additional Summer Leadership Institute series opportunities to fullfill increased demand. •Increase innovative marketing and communication efforts to increase reach and frequency.
Sustainability
•Through flawless execution and continuing to provide innovative curriculum, position the Summer Leadership Institute as the super‐regional place for young women's leadership development. •Create opportunities for each camp to become fully sustainable through grants, community partnerships and sponsorship initiatives. •Enhance participant experience by continuing to increase scores on all feedback surveys.
Engagement
•Develop touch‐points to remain connected to Summer Leadership Institute alumni throughout the year, as well as in years to come. •Continue tracking successes of the Summer Leadership Institute alumni throughout their career. •Continue connection with alumni, community and regional networks to optimize continued support.
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Summer Leadership Institute 2014 Annual Report prepared by the Institute for Leadership & Professional Excellence at Columbia College
Addendum A) B) C) D) E) F) G) H) I) J) K) L) M)
Scholarships Awarded by County Guest Speakers & Volunteers About the Institute for Leadership & Professional Excellence About Columbia College Photo Albums: https://www.facebook.com/TheInstituteatColumbiaCollege/photos_stream?tab=photos_albums Social Media Tagboards: https://tagboard.com/stepin2014 | https://tagboard.com/StepAbove2014 Step Up Week Agenda: http://bit.ly/StepUp2014Agenda Step Up Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDHN89rXwYY Step In Week Agenda: http://bit.ly/StepIn2014Agenda Step In Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S‐fc1BwrqB8 Step Above Week Agenda: http://bit.ly/StepAbove2014Agenda Step Above Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFeA33HrPC0 Marketing Brochure
A. Summer Leadership Institute Scholarships By County in SC & NC
Partial to full scholarships of $150‐500 were awarded to 57 girls. Anderson Bamberg Barnwell Buncombe Cherokee Chesterfield Darlington Dorchester Durham Fayette Georgetown Greenwood Guilford Horry Kershaw Lexington Orange Orangeburg Richland Spartanburg Sumter Wake Wayne Williamsburg
2 1 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 2 1 1 3 3 4 15 3 1 1 1 3
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Summer Leadership Institute 2014 Annual Report prepared by the Institute for Leadership & Professional Excellence at Columbia College
B. Summer Leadership Institute Guest Speakers & Volunteers Lauren Adams, SCANA Samantha Atkins, SCANA Liz Atkinson, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Columbia, SC Betty Best, SCANA Beshshunda Blackette, SCANA Martha Bode, SCANA Melissia Brannen, Student Activities Division at Columbia College Wendy Broderick, YMCA and Palmetto Center for Women LaNae Briggs Budden, Student Affairs Division at Columbia College Rachel Byrd, SCANA Erin Carlson, Center for Applied Learning at Columbia College Chante' Clarkson, Center for Academic Advising at Columbia College Michelle Coker, SCANA Officer Tyler Cook, Columbia College Police Department Allison Cranford, TD Bank Shanita D'Angelo, Entrepreneur Felita Counts Davis, SCANA Ryal Curtis, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina John Dawkins, Transitions Hanna Debruhl, Center for Career Coaching at Columbia College Elizabeth Dinndorf, Columbia College Michele Dugar, Benedict College & Entrepreneur Latoya Ellis, SCANA Tammie Epps, Palmetto Health Wende' Ferguson, Student Activities Division at Columbia College Sarah Ford, First Citizens Bank Ashley Forte, SCANA Anita Garrett, The Weathers Group Ashley Gaskin, Office of Financial Aid at Columbia College Jennifer Gissendanner, SCANA Mims Creed Goza, WIS‐TV Anthony Goldman, South Carolina Administrative Law Court & Entrepreneur, The Koala Bottle Kiosha Gregg, Digitize Marketing Jessica Grote, Entrepreneur Betsy Hall, Centene Corporation Kaela Harmon, Columbia Metropolitan Airport
Tina Herbert, City of Columbia Greg Hilton, Evolution Partners & SOCO – The Columbia Cowork Laurie Hopkins, Columbia College Jon Hunsicker, Jones School Supply Rania Jamison, Entrepreneur Latoya Jeeter, Center for Career Coaching at Columbia College Vida Jennings, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Ranarda Jones, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Kortni Koutrakos, Twisted Sisters Boot Camp, Entrepreneur and Coach Christine Lomer La Cola, EdD, Institute for Leadership & Professional Excellence at Columbia College David Laird, Central Carolina Community Foundation Erica Lake, University of South Carolina Career Center Lasenta Lewis Ellis, LLE Construction LLC Kayla Mallet, Girl Scouts of South Carolina – Mountains to Midlands Council Erin McCaskill, First Citizens Bank Jim McFarland, SCANA Monique McDaniels, Richland County Cpl. Ken Meeks, Columbia College Police Department Cheryl Peltier, Center for Career Coaching at Columbia College Ebony Perkins, Columbia College Student Shanika Pichey, Entrepreneur Kenetta Pierce, Center for Career Coaching at Columbia College Michele Reid, PhD, Entrepreneur, Get Well With Michele! Lt. Tammie Ritchie, Columbia College Police Department Dana Roberts, SCANA Naomi Sargent, Columbia Opportunity Resource Loretta Schwerin, Marriott Hotel Taryn Shekitka‐West, South Carolina Truckers Association Jessica Smith, Institute for Leadership & Professional Excellence at Columbia College Julie Smith, Marriott Hotel Karolyn Stone, Marriott Hotel Debbie Summers, Harvest Hope Food Bank Christi Tanner, SCANA Justin Thompson, Center for Career Coaching at Columbia College Elizabeth Wyatt, Columbia College Student 14
Summer Leadership Institute 2014 Annual Report prepared by the Institute for Leadership & Professional Excellence at Columbia College
C. About the Institute for Leadership & Professional Excellence
The Institute for Leadership & Professional Excellence delivers a unique, comprehensive four‐year program integrating high school‐to‐college and college‐to‐career advising, leadership development, career planning, mentorship and personal and professional development to the Women’s College students. Through four inter‐related, interdependent centers of excellence, the Institute works with three pipelines of individuals ‐ young women, college women and professional women and men. Through these engagements, the Institute positively affects the way that these individuals think about and practice leadership and professionalism in their work and personal lives. Learn more and connect at columbiasc.edu/institute.
D. About Columbia College
Columbia College, founded in 1854, is a private, liberal arts, women’s college with coeducational evening and graduate programs. The College is ranked among the best Regional Universities in the South and was recognized as a Best Value Institution in the 2014 U.S. News & World Report. In the National Survey of Student Engagement, measuring the overall effectiveness of the college experience, Columbia College ranks among the top‐performing institutions in the country. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Columbia College advocates a holistic approach to education, with an emphasis on respect for the individual and service to the community. In recognition of these values, the College is listed in The Templeton Guide: Colleges that Encourage Character Development. Enrollment is approximately 1,200 students from 22 states and 8 countries. Degrees conferred include bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, master of arts, and master of education. Among the College’s most notable features are a 11:1 student‐faculty ratio, a nationally recognized honors program, emphasis on leadership development for women, and unique opportunities for career‐focused field experiences and travel‐study in the United States and abroad. Nearly half of Columbia College alumnae enter graduate, law, or medical school. The College’s undergraduate curriculum offers more than 30 majors and a variety of minors and special programs, including an evening program and two new online majors designed for working professionals. The graduate program offers a master of arts degree in organizational change and leadership, a master of education degree in divergent learning, and a master of education degree in higher education. The rapidly growing women’s athletics program, recognized consistently with the Champions of Character Five Star Institutional Award, features competition in basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and volleyball through the Appalachian Athletic Conference of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The College holds two prestigious Theodore M. Hesburgh Certificates of Excellence for “innovative faculty development enhancing undergraduate learning” and is home to the 2010–2011 United States Professor of the Year, Dr. John Zubizarreta.
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2014
Summer Leadership INSTITUTE
Since 1990, more than 1,400 young women have taken their first steps with us to become successful leaders. Nominate an outstanding young woman by April 14.
columbiasc.edu/SummerInstitute
2014 SUMMER LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE CAMPS Columbia College’s Summer Leadership Institute has inspired and propelled young women leaders for 24 years. Tuition is $500 and includes programming, room and board. Scholarships are available based on financial need. Questions? Please call Jen Hunsicker at 803.786.3894 or email: leadership@columbiasc.edu.
STEP UP June 15–20, 2014: Designed for rising 9th graders ready to embrace the courage to lead and build a foundation for leadership. Girls will learn about the four steps of leadership and discover how to work with others in their age group through fun, interactive activities. Registration Deadline: May 1.
STEP IN August 3–8, 2014: Designed for rising 10–11th graders ready to champion her own unique
talents and develop a framework for leadership. Through interactive workshops, girls will discover their strengths and learn how to use their talents in teams and leadership roles. Registration Deadline: July 1.
STEP ABOVE August 3–8, 2014; runs concurrently with Step In: Designed for rising 11–12th grade
young women ready to apply leadership skills in the real world. Each participant will practice and put into action fundamental leadership skills to make her future-ready. Girls will also explore what it means to model servant leadership, identify a need in the community and implement a project to help create a solution. Registration Deadline: July 1.
Information, Nomination and Applications:
columbiasc.edu/SummerInstitute