Black Student Union Leadership Conference

11th Annual BSU Leadership Conference | Feb. 20, 2024 | 8:30am-2pm | FREE

This immersion experience is for high school and college-level students and includes a morning keynote speaker to inspire students and get you excited for a day of learning. The array of breakout sessions are designed to help develop leadership skills, challenge self-efficacy and bring awareness to social and political issues. Breakfast snack and lunch will be provided.

Hosted by the Department of Student Belonging and Inclusion and the K-State Black Student Union.

Registration:

Registration is now closed. Information about the 12th Annual BSU Leadership Conference will be available soon.

Conference Schedule

*Subject to change

8:30 - 9:30 am	Arrive on campus, K-State Student Union
9:30 - 9:40 am	Welcome
9:40 - 9:45 am	Introduction of Keynote Speaker
9:45 - 10:30 am	Keynote Address
10:30 - 10:40 am	Transition to Breakout Sessions
10:40 - 11:25 am	Breakout Session One
10:30 am - 12:15 pm	Breakout Session Two
12:15 - 1:30 pm	Lunch + Music
1:30 - 2:00 pm	Closing Remarks and Feedback Survey
2:00 - 2:45 pm	Campus Tour (optional)
3:00 pm	End of conference

Keynote Speaker

Jay Todd (@jay_todd26)

29 Year Old, Kansas City, MO native Jay Todd, M.S.Ed, has the professional skills and real-life experience to deliver on anystage. He is a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator who works with different age groups, backgrounds, companies,universities, organizations, and associations of all sizes seeking a breakthrough experience. While sharing his story, he alsouses his knowledge & wisdom to help improve mental health and process/heal through trauma while establishing a healthy focus on improving everyday life.

As a Mental Health Advocate & Professional Speaker, he has spoken nationwide at different conferences & events for over6+ years, focusing on reestablishing how we look at Mental Health, Self-care, and Emotional Intelligence. As an educator,he has developed and presented many workshops focusing on Mental Health, Growth, Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity in allareas, from personal & professional to corporate spaces. Jay has even utilized his skills in life coaching for countless mentees, at-risk youth, and life-coaching clients of all ages and backgrounds across the country while appearing ondifferent campuses, events, and podcasts to bring forward a positive & relatable influence to everyone he enters contactwith. In every way, he wants to let his passion fuel his purpose in helping others. To help them do better. Not to try, but to do!

Breakout Session Workshops

Session descriptions will continue to be updated; please check this page frequently for additional information.

"BSU's Declassified College Survivial Guide"

K-State BSU

Join K-State's award winning Black Student Union President and his executive team as they give you an insight into how to survive college whether that be scholarships, mental health, or even navigating friends and relationships.

"K-State Admissions 101"

Quenton Sass, K-State Office of Admissions and Recruitment

Connect with K-State Admissions as they share the many opportunities available at the university, answer questions you have about higher education, and everything you need to know about applying to be a Wildcat.

"How to W.I.N. (Writing Resumes. Interviewing. Networking)"

Cherri Brown, Customer Process Lead, Cargill

Supercharge your path to success by taking action and focusing your effort where it truly counts! How can you write a powerful resume to get it to the top of the pile? What can you do to prepare for interviews to ensure you leave that interview knowing you've put your best effort forward? How can you effectively network to stand out in a crowd and make an impact? Come join Cherri Brown, Customer Process Lead with Cargill, to learn more and walk away with tools to W.I.N. for your own great adventure! (Union-Room 206)

"From College to Koch"

Kemberly Bliss & Pia Ajo, Koch Industries

Participants will connect with a current Koch employee to talk about the journey from being a student to becoming a business professional at Koch. The session will be paired with an overview of Koch Industries touching on what we do and why we do it. (Union Room 207)

"A Playbook to Prosperity: The Top 3 Secrets of Successful Professionals"

Dr. Olivia Law-Delrosso

Do you want to be successful? Learn the top 3 strategies used by high-achieving business people that you can utilize now to navigate your path to prosperity and your professional journey. (Union-Room 227)

"Making the Most of College"

Danny Woods

When you become a college student, you will soon find there are many opportunities available to you; from academics, to career goals, and your personal life. In this session we will go over what it takes to be successful both inside and outside of the classroom. (Union-Muir Room)

"You Belong in College"

Dr. Eric Thompson and Rebeca Paz

This interactive session will inform college bound students that college is accessible and attainable and willexplore resources and opportunities to succeed in a predominantly white campus. Participants will gain confidence that they belong in college and will receive tips and tools essential to academic success. (Union-FlintHills Room)

"CHOOSE: Being a Multiracial Student in A Monoracial Society"

Robert Page

This interactive presentation will explore how students can empower themselves to meet the growing needs for multiracial student engagement. This session will help students assess how reaching this population can positively impact student success and a more inclusive environment. We will discuss how multiracial identity can promote and encourage civility and respect within your school communities. This session will engage, challenge and support this population which is the growing significantly in America. (Union-Forum Hall)

"Empowering Yourself to Build Wealth and Happiness Through Graduate Education"

Dr. Claudia Petresu

This interactive workshop will discuss why is it important to think of graduate education as an empowerment tool and how to do so, what one needs to know about preparing for graduate studies, how to navigate the application process and graduate student life. The workshop will discuss the real and perceived barriers such as funding, support system, and the impostor syndrome. Participants in this workshop will gain a strong understanding of how graduate education will serve them as an empowerment tool. (MSC-Oneok Room)

"Navigating Your College Experience: A Roadmap for Success"

Monshonda Booker

This session will provide participants with a road map to prepare for their transition to college, such as college entrance exams, scholarships, FAFSA, and career pathways. The session will provide the students with a checklist of steps to take preparing for college. The sessions will explore the many resources available for students to be successful. Lastly, the session will explore career choices for those students that might be undecided and still exploring options as major. (MSC-Room 204/205)

Contact

Please direct any questions to Mirta Chavez, AVP for Student Belonging and Inclusion, 785-532-6276 or Adam Carr, Program Administrator.

SBI will not provide parking passes for this event. Hotel and Transportation accomadations can be made by request to SBI. Please know that support is not guaranteed and is dependent on funding availability.

Thank you to our sponsors: Kansas Department of Children and Families, Koch Industries, Cargill, and the K-State Black Student Union.