Programs in the Spotlight
Fort Hays State University VISTA Develops Leadership Programs
Leadership On & Off the Field: Leadership Development for the Student Athlete
VISTA Cari McGrath is serving at FHSU's Kansas Youth Leadership Academy
 |
The first LOOF conference is scheduled for March 27-28, 2007 at the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in Wichita, which has become a major partnership for KYLA's new program. |
Cari's efforts are best described in her own words:
"The best experience of my VISTA term so far is really an ongoing process. I am in the middle of helping to develop a new program for the Kansas Youth Leadership Academy called Leadership On & Off the Field: Leadership Development for the Student Athlete and I'm very excited about it! LOOF (as we call it around the office) is designed to provide Kansas high school student athletes with comprehensive leadership training. This program has two objectives: first, to nurture and enhance the leadership behaviors that many young student athletes are beginning to display; and second, to help student athletes transfer these skills from the athletic arena to other areas of their lives. Utilizing leadership experts, coaches, athletic directors, and community leaders from across the country, this specialized curriculum focuses on character development, leadership and teambuilding skills, and citizenship.
"So far I have been involved in every major aspect of program development. I formed two different planning teams, both local and virtual, that I stay in contact with for brainstorming ideas and developing networks to obtain resources. A blog site and emails have been our major means of communication, and the local team also has had a couple of meetings. I then searched out areas around the state that could possibly house our first conference, which is Tuesday, March 27th, and Wednesday, March 28th, 2007. We decided on the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in Wichita, and this has actually turned out to be a major partnership for the program. They are providing the space for free every fall for a conference, along with access to numerous other resources, and we are helping them to fulfill part of their mission...so it's a win-win for everyone.
"Sponsorship and information packets were then developed by the staff that we have been using to get the word out. Our major mission right now is securing funding for the program. We are currently in talks with a few different corporations and do have some promising leads. We have also secured several session facilitators/trainers and three keynote speakers for the first conference who include: Bob Anastas, founder of SADD and former All-American athlete and coach; Coach Bill Snyder, I'm sure you all know who that is and we are forming a great partnership with him to help with one of his major initiatives; and Will Baker who is with the Target Corporation and is a FHSU grad from the Leadership Department.
"From there we have been working on marketing. A website is now up and running, an initial postcard about the first conference was just mailed out to every high school superintendent, school board presidents, principals, coaches, and athletic directors, and we are developing a brochure right now. I'm also gathering curriculum ideas on our five themes for the conference to be used in each session. And every day is something new...I love it!"
For an information packet on the LOOF program, please click here.
Please visit the links below for more information about KsCC's partners at Fort Hays State University.
 |
 |
For more information on the KsCC AmeriCorps*VISTA Project, click here.
PRESIDENTS
EMPLOYMENT