SXU Holds Annual Synergy Leadership Summit
Saint Xavier University (SXU) held its sixth annual Synergy Leadership Summit on February 18. The student-led conference consists of educational sessions, student panels, engaging activities and service projects to help students understand various aspects of leadership and work to become diverse, inclusive and innovative leaders.
This year, Synergy featured keynote speaker Natalie Page, Ed.D., chief diversity officer. The keynote was followed by a presentation from the Crisis Center for South Suburbia who discussed the Chapstick Project, healthy relationships, and volunteer opportunities at the center.
After the presentation, students attended a series of breakout sessions which covered a variety of leadership topics including success, implicit bias, self-care, job interviews, scholarships and internships, passion pursuit, becoming culturally competent, building confidence, service excellence, and more.
To close, students heard from members of the Student Government Association (SGA), learned about X-Factor student leader opportunities, and received closing remarks from Katy Thompson, SXU's Dean of Students.
Students who attended Synergy received credit for the Cougars LEAD Leadership Certificate program, which helps students learn about, explore, achieve and develop leadership skills and opportunities. Students were asked to use one word to describe the event and came back with a variety of uplifting words, among them including: inspiring, energizing, engaging, interesting, helpful, fun, enlightening, amazing, eye-opening, inclusive, informative, impactful, educational, successful, interactive, and resourceful. Students were grateful for the event and voiced that they felt more comfortable with and excited about developing their leadership.
"The Synergy Leadership Summit is an opportunity for existing and emerging student leaders to come together to learn and further hone their leadership skills through interactive and engaging sessions. Our leadership initiatives are organized in a way so that our students develop the skills needed to achieve career success after graduation and ultimately cultivate the leaders of tomorrow," said Joshua Bogaski-Baugh, executive director of Student Success. "I am so grateful for the work of our planning committee, the Center for SUCCESS, and our presenters who made this event a success."