AMBASSADORS PARTICIPATE IN COLLEGE LEADERSHIP NETWORK

Front row (left to right) Janna Gerstenberger (Stephenville, Tex.),
Elisa Bledsoe (Big Pasture), Brooke Berry (Mangum), Kelsey Haught (Altus),
Caitlin Madl (Altus), Jaimie Henry (Altus). Back row (left to right)
Colin Lowe (Ninnekah), Amanda Meeks (Tipton), Trevor Courtney (Tipton),
 Jenifer Montgomery (Hobart), Shannon Beisel (Altus), Evan Mustard (Altus).
Not pictured: Jessica Madl (Altus).

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Western Oklahoma State College’s student Ambassadors will be participating in the Collegiate Leadership Network (CLN) this year, a program based at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.

Western is among six other colleges and universities that will form the CLN, with the mission of creating opportunities for students to gain a greater understanding of leadership, its importance and application, and to educate the next generation of leaders for Oklahoma and beyond.

The CLN will also be launched with a newly formed partnership with renowned leadership expert, John Maxwell. Maxwell, who has sold more than thirteen million books on leadership, is the founder of EQUIP and INJOY Stewardship Services, and speaks to such organizations as the United States Military Academy at West Point and the National Football League. Each institution associated with the CLN will form classes that will be connected through the internet, and will receive webcast presentations of UCO’s "Lesson’s in Leadership".

The class will also follow a common curriculum, with students receiving one credit through UCO upon completion of the course. Ambassadors will be asked to read a chapter from Maxwell’s book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, and to blog about something they read or heard during the "Lesson’s in Leadership" webcasts each week.

During the semester, Ambassadors will be able to hear from featured speakers, such as Governor Brad Henry, creativity expert, Sir Ken Robinson, OU women’s basketball coach, Sherry Coale, Oklahoma House of Representatives Speaker, Lance Cargill, former Edmond mayor, Saundra Neifeh, Oklahoma State Senator, Clark Jolley, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Chancellor, Glenn Johnson, KWTV News 9 anchor, Robin Marsh, former Rose State College President, Jim Cook, and Oklahoma State Representative, Ken Miller.

The speakers will address a variety of topics, including creative leadership, ethics, courage, building relationships, civility, the ability to communicate, discipline, and social and emotional intelligence.This year’s Western Ambassadors are Shannon Biesel, Brooke Berry, Elisa Bledsoe, Trevor Courtney, Janna Gerstenberger, Kelsey Haught, Jaimie Henry, Colin Lowe, Caidlin Madl, Jessica Madl, Amanda Meeks, Jennifer Montgomery, and Evan Mustard. Western’s Ambassador program is under the direction of Chad Wiginton, director of college and high school relations.