Student representatives from across Parkland College met Tuesday in Kamsack for the College’s first ever Student Advisory Leadership Conference (SALC).
The conference brought together Adult Basic Education (ABE) Student Advisory members from the College’s locations in Yorkton, Melville, Fort Qu’Appelle, and Kamsack. About 30 students came out for a day of learning, team building, and brainstorming.
According to Linda Heshka, Coordinator of ABE programs at Parkland College, the SALC is a new effort to engage students and to encourage them to make positive changes to their learning experience.
“Our goal as an ABE team was to invite students to add their voice to the culture and climate of our campuses,” said Heshka. “We believe this initial year was a great start.”
The event builds on the work of student advisory committees among learners in the College’s high school upgrading programs. The central theme for the inaugural conference was Everyday Leadership.
The SALC included guest speaker Scott Musqua, who serves as an Aboriginal Liaison Worker at Sacred Heart High School in Yorkton. In his role, he provides academic support, attendance monitoring, and family and community communications.
Musqua’s presentation Tuesday centered on his own upbringing and life experiences and the importance of ordinary people displaying extraordinary leadership, regardless of one’s place in the social or workplace hierarchies.
The event also featured a TED Talk on leadership by Drew Dudley. TED Talks are popular influential videos shared on the Internet that present ideas in 18 minutes or less. TED Talks promote “Ideas Worth Spreading” in fields like science, technology, business, culture, education, and art.
“Drew helps us understand leadership in a more nuanced, practical, and hopeful way. He argues that we too often make leadership into something bigger than us, or beyond us. We make it about money, fame, titles, and influence – something reserved for a select few,” Heshka explained.
“Instead, Drew insists our organizations and communities are stronger when we embrace the idea that there is a form of leadership of which we are all capable, and we know our students will learn from that.”
The day’s events concluded with a brainstorming session during which the students made suggestions to improve the learning environment and remove barriers to education. Common recommendations focused on improving childcare and transportation, and enhancing food and beverage options.
The next SALC will be held in Yorkton when the academic year begins in the fall of 2016.
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