K-State Strengths for Students Conference
Save the date! The 2026 Strengths for Students Conference will be held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on Friday, April 17, 2026. Contact cliftonstrengths@unl.edu for more information.
The K-State Strengths for Students Conference creates space for students from universities across the Midwest to connect and apply their Strengths and exchange ideas centered on campus Strengths development initiatives.
Designed with students, by students, and for students
This conference will help you consider how you can leverage your strengths to create thriving campus organizations and communities. Our aim is to generate a connected community of Strengths Champions who can share strengths best practices to increase student engagement and well-being.
At the inaugural event in 2024, we hosted more than 75 participants from K-State (Manhattan and Salina campuses), UNL, Fort Hays and KU.
- 97% of students said they walked away from the 2024 K-State Strengths for Students conference with strategies to support students in their campus community.
- 95% of students said they were energized to integrate strengths-based learning with students in their campus community.
- 100% of students said the conference met or exceeded their expectations!
Student-led workshops
Topics will include increasing student well-being and engagement, applying Strengths in student organizations, coaching peers to develop their strengths, leveraging Strengths in internships and careers, and more. 
Participants will:
- Build your strengths peer network
- Receive one-on-one peer coaching to develop and apply your Strengths
- Identify Strengths-based tools and strategies to increase engagement in your class or student organization
- Share stories about strengths in action
- Exchange ideas for developing a strengths-based culture on college campuses
What you'll get out of this event
By the end of the day, participants will have polished these skillsets and more:
- Communication Skills
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Collaboration
- Self-Development
- Acknowledging Diverse Perspectives
- Resiliency
Take everything you learn at the conference into daily practice. You will confidently leverage your Strengths to increase your personal well-being, and highlight your Strengths in your resume and career goals to advocate for yourself.
Why Strengths?
"It was helpful to see how, when on teams, we can harness our strengths for a common goal."
- It was interesting to see how intertwined my strengths are in my personal brand. As I approach graduation I can see that what I love to do and what energizes me can be combined by using my strengths.
- I learned more about how, in my significant stories, I can find ways that my strengths are intertwined. As I inspire others, build connections, and learn more about others, my strengths give context to my “why” and “how.”
- Learning everyone’s Strengths stories showed how unique we all are and how we can still find similarities and empowerment through our strengths.
- I enjoyed learning about how to combine different working styles of people to make a great team where everyone is energized through their work.
- This session helped me take strengths that were prevalent to myself and display them professionally. Whether that lies on my resume, or in job applications, or even in interviews, I feel like I can harness my strengths when applying for future careers.
- I really liked getting to strategize different ways of harnessing my individual strengths in a team setting and learning how to develop a strengths-based culture in my student organizations.
- I learned how to use my leading strengths domain to identify tangible action items that help me achieve a specific goal.
- I LOVED THIS SO MUCH!!!! Using a goal mapping sheet was so helpful to break down steps and use your strengths to achieve them.
Highlight your participation
As an attendee, you might be thinking about how to best share this development opportunity in professional environments like LinkedIn or on a resume. We hope these examples will inspire you!
I just wrapped up an incredible day at the K-State Strengths for Students Conference!
Workshops facilitated by fellow students allowed me to develop my own strengths story and consider how I can leverage my greatest strengths as I work on academic and workplace teams. These also provided space for me to build a network of peers who are committed to increasing well-being and engagement on college campuses and in the workplace.
One of the highlights for me was the opportunity to engage in personalized peer coaching where I was able to identify how to leverage my strengths to pursue my goals. Connecting with fellow students, sharing experiences, and learning from each other's journeys made the event even more enriching.
Let's keep the conversation going... What are your greatest strengths? How do you apply them to thrive?
And use these hashtags with any social media posts: #KStateStrengthsforStudents #CliftonStrengths #top5andthrive
I had the opportunity to facilitate a workshop about __________ at the K-State Strengths for Students Conference!
The opportunity to collaborate with peers to develop engaging, student focused, activities was empowering. I applied my _______ strength while facilitating this workshop when I ____________________.
This conference allowed me to network with peers who are committed to increasing well-being and engagement on college campuses and in the workplace.
One of the highlights for me was the opportunity to engage in personalized peer coaching where I was able to identify how to leverage my strengths to pursue my goals. Connecting with fellow students, sharing experiences, and learning from each other's journeys made the event even more enriching.
Let's keep the conversation going... What are your greatest strengths? How do you apply them to thrive?
And include these hashtags on any social media posts: #KStateStrengthsforStudents #CliftonStrengths #top5andthrive
K-State Strengths for Students Conference (April 2025), Staley School of Leadership at Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
- Networked with over 100 students from universities across the Midwest around campus strengths development
- Developed my own “Strengths Story” that illustrates what I do best and why
- Coached a peer to apply their strengths by asking powerful questions and practicing active listening
- Set personal and professional goals that leverage my Top 5 CliftonStrengths
- Analyzed tools and strategies to build and leverage the unique talents of members of Strengths-based teams
Staley School of Leadership
252 Leadership Studies Building
1300 Mid-Campus Dr. N.
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6085
leadership@ksu.edu