A unique four-day program June 20-23, sponsored by the Elon University Center for Leadership and Organization Development, gave middle school students a chance to learn about their leadership skills and each other. Details...
Eleven students from Turrentine Middle School in Burlington participated in Leadership Turrentine, which gave the students an opportunity to develop their leadership skills and identify areas in the community where they can make a difference.
Two Elon Leadership Fellows, junior Nick Palatiello and senior Dan Hanson, served as facilitators, along with several local high school students. They led the Turrentine students as they navigated a ropes course on the Elon campus, attended interactive seminars about communication, and learned about civic responsibility and integrity.
Through guided exercises, the middle schoolers identified three areas in their community where their input can make a positive difference. The students presented these areas to Turrentine Principal Stephen Gainey and their parents during a program on Wednesday, June 23.
Leadership Turrentine is funded by the Leadership program and a one-year Project Pericles grant. Rex Waters, assistant dean of students at Elon, says the program is important to every student who participates.
“Leadership Turrentine provides a great opportunity for Elon students to share the knowledge and skills they are developing in the Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows Program. It has been a joy to work with the college, high school and middle school students.”
The 11 Turrentine students who participated were:
- Graham Walker
- Andrew Winters
- Ike Nwoko
- Elliot Lynch
- Anna Marie Castrillon
- Michelle Ngo
- Ryan Daye
- Kendra Davis
- Helen Powell
- Clay Holland
- Kendal Miles
These students will join 13 eighth grade students who participated in the program last year to begin work on their community service program in August.