By Joshua Stevens
Columnist
I was one of four students from Boone campus to attend Leadership Iowa University in August. Lucas Hall, Matthew Kolker and Maria Melendez joined me in sharing the unique experience of LIU.
The programs objective is to educate, inspire and develop young leaders as the foundation for Iowa’s future economic growth and to encourage their on-going involvement in local communities and the state to create a better future for all Iowans.
LIU combines three critical elements. First is a week-long curriculum that includes leadership assessment and training, hands-on education about Iowa issues and the opportunity to meet and learn from Iowa’s political and corporate leaders. Second are follow-up sessions to further enhance your leadership and business skills, while building an awareness of Iowa issues and opportunities. Lastly is mentorship with a business professional in students’ area of career interest.
Leadership Iowa University is a program of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry Foundation (ABIF); it is designed for college students. It is modeled after the very successful and unique Leadership Iowa program, which is in its 30th year.
This year’s events included tours of the Pella Corporation, Veel Hoeden, Pioneer Hi-Bred, Iowa Soybean Association, Accumold, Iowa State Capitol Building and StartUpCity Des Moines. There were several networking events including a dinner with past LIU graduates, Tassel Ridge Winery reception, a government roundtable, lunch roundtable with business leaders at Dos Rios and a reception at Flynn Wright.
Dr. Alec Zama of Grand View University spoke about living under Communism in the old USSR and what freedom means to him. We heard from Adam Carroll an author about “Winning the Money Game”. Mike Wagner the CEO of the White Rabbit Group spoke to us about tools we could use to get noticed and how to rise to the top.
Columnist
I was one of four students from Boone campus to attend Leadership Iowa University in August. Lucas Hall, Matthew Kolker and Maria Melendez joined me in sharing the unique experience of LIU.
The programs objective is to educate, inspire and develop young leaders as the foundation for Iowa’s future economic growth and to encourage their on-going involvement in local communities and the state to create a better future for all Iowans.
LIU combines three critical elements. First is a week-long curriculum that includes leadership assessment and training, hands-on education about Iowa issues and the opportunity to meet and learn from Iowa’s political and corporate leaders. Second are follow-up sessions to further enhance your leadership and business skills, while building an awareness of Iowa issues and opportunities. Lastly is mentorship with a business professional in students’ area of career interest.
Leadership Iowa University is a program of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry Foundation (ABIF); it is designed for college students. It is modeled after the very successful and unique Leadership Iowa program, which is in its 30th year.
This year’s events included tours of the Pella Corporation, Veel Hoeden, Pioneer Hi-Bred, Iowa Soybean Association, Accumold, Iowa State Capitol Building and StartUpCity Des Moines. There were several networking events including a dinner with past LIU graduates, Tassel Ridge Winery reception, a government roundtable, lunch roundtable with business leaders at Dos Rios and a reception at Flynn Wright.
Dr. Alec Zama of Grand View University spoke about living under Communism in the old USSR and what freedom means to him. We heard from Adam Carroll an author about “Winning the Money Game”. Mike Wagner the CEO of the White Rabbit Group spoke to us about tools we could use to get noticed and how to rise to the top.
Lucas Hall is a specialist in the Iowa Army National Guard and mechanical engineering student. He said “LIU is a phenomenal experience. Every student learned something new about careers in their major. Also we gleaned new insights and knowledge from our round table talks with experienced leadership.”
Matthew Kolker plans to attend Iowa State and major in chemical engineering with a focus on the food engineering side. “For me, what I took away was the networking skills I was introduced to, and the knowledge about how large the career field is in Iowa,” he said.
Maria Melendez is a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico and plans to attend Iowa State for industrial engineering. “In Leadership Iowa University I learned a lot,” she said. “I was inspired in ways that I never imagined possible. I am not from Iowa and learning the many qualities this state has I want to make it my home. All you hear these days is how bad the economy is and it is good to know that the place where I decided to get an education is focusing on its economic growth. I wasn’t considering staying in Iowa after graduation but this program opened my eyes and my mind and I can’t think of a reason why to leave this wonderful state.”
I am working toward my liberal arts degree with hopes to attain a degree in Physical Therapy. LIU showed us a lot about who we are. It showed us how to understand our strengths along with our weaknesses. I believe that LIU has helped me in ways that I can’t put a price on.
I highly recommend LIU to any student looking to further their personal and professional experience. For information, contact physics professor Dr. Nancy Woods.
Matthew Kolker plans to attend Iowa State and major in chemical engineering with a focus on the food engineering side. “For me, what I took away was the networking skills I was introduced to, and the knowledge about how large the career field is in Iowa,” he said.
Maria Melendez is a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico and plans to attend Iowa State for industrial engineering. “In Leadership Iowa University I learned a lot,” she said. “I was inspired in ways that I never imagined possible. I am not from Iowa and learning the many qualities this state has I want to make it my home. All you hear these days is how bad the economy is and it is good to know that the place where I decided to get an education is focusing on its economic growth. I wasn’t considering staying in Iowa after graduation but this program opened my eyes and my mind and I can’t think of a reason why to leave this wonderful state.”
I am working toward my liberal arts degree with hopes to attain a degree in Physical Therapy. LIU showed us a lot about who we are. It showed us how to understand our strengths along with our weaknesses. I believe that LIU has helped me in ways that I can’t put a price on.
I highly recommend LIU to any student looking to further their personal and professional experience. For information, contact physics professor Dr. Nancy Woods.