With finals behind them and summer vacation around the corner, 54 St. Edward’s University students found the time to learn what it means to be a leader at the LeaderShape Institute. The program, held May 8-13 at T-Bar-M Ranch in New Braunfels, engaged students in self-discovery, practical experiences and discussion that developed their leadership capacity, benefiting themselves, their respective organizations, and the institutions they will go on to lead and serve in the future.

Established in 1986, The LeaderShape Institute has graduated more than 20,000 students from all over the world and has been named an “exemplary program” by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Students spend much of the six-day program in small groups called “family clusters” that create a safe, supportive learning environment that allows them to work together, form close friendships, and benefit from new perspectives.

Each student works to define a personal vision ­— his or her own commitment to changing or contributing to the world in a positive way. Based on that vision, participants develop a plan for the action they will undertake in the upcoming year to effect “meaningful, measurable change in their organization and on campus,” according to the LeaderShape web site.

Rudy Trejo, ’08, who will start his tenure as president of the Student Government Association in Fall 2007, attended a national LeaderShape conference and provided assistance and support at the St. Edward’s University LeaderShape conference.

"I’m a different person now than when I left for LeaderShape," Trejo says. "Now I have a deeper sense of self and direction as a leader at St. Edward’s."

LeaderShape is the first offering out of Hilltop Leadership Development, a comprehensive leadership program through Student Life that resulted from an initiative developed by the Division of Student Affairs two years ago. The program was selected as the cornerstone of Hilltop Leadership Development for its alignment with the mission of St. Edward’s University, which includes an emphasis on helping students to understand themselves, clarify their personal values and recognize their responsibility to the world community.

Hilltop Leadership Development will be offering a variety of leadership programs and opportunities in the upcoming year, including another session of the LeaderShape Institute next May. Everyone can be a leader — including you. Find out how at Hilltop Leadership Development.

Date: May 5-10, 2008 
Location: T-Bar-M Ranch in New Braunfels  
How to Apply: Applications will be available in February at www.stedwards.edu/leadership