UA News

The National Collegiate Leadership Conference trains students from across the United States to become active, engaged and effective leaders. The three-day program runs this month.

Hundreds of college and university students from around the United States will convene at The University of Arizona in February for what has come to be known as one of the largest student-centered leadership conferences in the nation.

Volunteers with the student-run group that puts on the annual National Collegiate Leadership Conference, now in its 21st year, promote ideals associated with service, social justice and leadership.

About 340 students have registered for the conference, which will be held Feb. 13 to Feb. 15 at the UA's Student Union Memorial Center.

"We were expecting fewer students because of the economy," said Sandra Banuett, marketing director for the conference and a UA marketing major. 

"But the numbers are outrageous. People know this is a good conference and that it is worth it," Banuett said, noting that comparable conferences can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to attend. "And it's a great conference, especially for the cost."

Though early registration is closed, students can still register for the conference through Feb. 6 for $75.

"We hope more UA students take advantage of this opportunity because they are our first, in order of importance," said Carolina Luque, the conference's chairwoman. "We are doing this for our peers, we're doing this for our university. Having other schools come is just icing on the cake."

The conference keynote speakers are James Castrission and Justin Jones, both from Australia. In 2007, they began kayaking across the Tasman Sea. Their trek amounted to more than 60 days and more than a 2,000-mile ride, and they became the first to successfully complete such an expedition from Australia to New Zealand.

"I hope the participants will look at what they did and realize they went out, did something different and they did it because they believed in it," said Luque, who is also a UA retail and consumer sciences senior.

"It was the leader within them and the hope that drove them," she said. "We hope the participants are touched by their story and go back to their communities and schools and realize they can go out and create change, whether in big or small leaps."

Other guest speakers and workshop facilitators include individuals from Pima Community College, Arizona State University, Lehigh University, Pepperdine University, DePaul University, Southern Illinois University, the University of Nevada Las Vegas and various nonprofit organizations. Numerous UA students, faculty and staff will also serve as facilitators.

In all, the conference agenda will cover topics related to coaching, alcohol abuse and the college drinking culture, sexual violence, the use of art for social change, career options, identity, multiculturalism and diversity, issues related to the current economic situation, and personal finances.

Conference participants are required to complete a service project, such as organizing a blood drive and clothing drive or cleaning a local park. The conference will also include interactive presentations, speakers, films and time set aside for reflection.

"We want them to realize that this is not just an exercise," Banuett said. "This is something they can take home with them."

This year, participants will have the option to sign up for excursions to various sites in the Tucson area, including the UA-managed Biosphere 2, Catalina State Park, the San Xavier Mission, Old Tucson Studios, the Gem and Mineral Show and various museums.

"We want to show our participants a little bit about Tucson," Banuett said, "and show them that we have a lot going on here."