One hundred eighty high school students from across the state of Oklahoma have spent the last six days on the campus of Northwestern Oklahoma State University-Alva at the annual Oklahoma Association of Student Councils (OASC) BASIC leadership workshop.
For one week in June and one week in July for the past 14 years in Alva, high school sophomores, juniors and seniors seeking leadership skills spend their time in leadership training.
Any high school student can attend this camp to build leadership skills if their high school is a member of OASC.
Students participate in breakout sessions that include leadership styles and traits, leadership activities, skills for success, team building, school spirit, etiquette and more.
During the workshop, students are divided into 11 councils where they must come up with a school name, mascot, colors and a school song and chant. Students in each council also are given real-life problems to solve and then act out their resolutions using skits.
Junior Counselors, members of OASC who have graduated high school, were assigned to each of the 11 councils. Those students with their respective high schools include Jansen Baker of Mannford, Carsyn Cragg of McAlester, Cisco Galvan of Santa Fe South, Sydney Haken of Covington-Douglas, Maddy Hunt of MacArthur, Destini Maize of Del City, Lindy Moss of Inola, Gillian Pickering of Yukon, Kristen Range of Owasso, Norah Scarbrough of Alva, Carson Schultz of Bishop Kelly, Dylan Simon of Walters, Lily Trent of Edmond Santa Fe, Dez Williams of Perry and Camille Yates of Bixby.
Students are using various buildings around campus and are staying in university housing along with the directors: Karen Koehn of Northwest Technology Center in Alva, workshop director for junior counselors and state officers; Denise Tomlinson of Bixby High School, director of facilities; Melinda Parks of Westmoore High School, director of curriculum and adult staff; and Shawn Freeman of Ada High School, director of registration.
“This is the 14th summer we have been hosted by NWOSU and the community of Alva, and the success of the workshop comes from the environment in which it is held as well as from the support of the entire university staff and the advisers from across the state who dedicate a week of their summer to educate and lead our Oklahoma youth,” said Koehn, who has worked with OASC for the past 34 years.
“I come away a better leader after spending time with the staff and delegates. The delegates reinstate my belief in our youth as well as energize me to be a better person. The NWOSU campus and the community of Alva should be very proud of the way our visitors are treated and the wonderful comments they share with me after spending a week in Alva, Oklahoma!”
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CONTACT FOR RELEASE
Erin Davis, University Relations Specialist
eedavis@nwosu.edu, (580) 327-8480