Many questions needed to be tackled:

When to meet? A Benet senior’s schedule during the day is already packed. Before school? After school? Weekends? No, a time when most could be free: the lunch/homeroom period was chosen.

Who is in charge? Te students are, with advice as needed from me and Mrs. Lynn Mertz, Associate Director of Development. Tis is what Gallup recommended. “Tey’re recognized as leaders and have accepted that invitation. Let them take over. You need only guide.” Gallup was right! A core group of students directs the process, selects the speakers, arranges the topics, schedules the Friday talks – gatherings that easily can draw over a hundred attendees. At the end of the year, the core group members choose their successors from the junior class.

Where has the Seminar been held? All over! From the old Assembly Hall (now the St. Terese Chapel on the third floor), to the Auction storage room in the “Old Gym”, St. Daniel’s rehearsal room, the Green Room, the library, multimedia lab, TV studio, theater, and even the Amphitheater outside St. Daniel’s and now, the St. Jude Commons. “Come and bring your lunch. You might learn something about some facet of leadership. Please clean up afterward.”

Topics? Items covered have included: public speaking, styles of leadership, talent and its recognition, theme theory, organization principles, success, motivation, the question “What is excellence?”, stress, the importance of evaluation. We’ve also looked at the FISH philosophy (yeah, the Pike Place Fish Market guys of Seattle, Washington), which looks to four points: “be there, play, make their day, and choose your attitude.”

One year the group decided that Leadership Seminar needed a mission statement. Te research was done and this is what they came up with: “Te mission of Benet Academy’s Leadership Seminar is to discover and develop, through discussion and example, the leadership talents inherent to its members in order to enliven societal action through effective direction and empowerment.” What’s really involved in this is our Benet students reflecting upon and articulating what so many of them naturally do well: being leaders. Teir insights can be fascinating, and the genuine passion they bring to the project inspiring.

ADERSHIP

For myself, looking back on this whole leadership adventure, I have to say, what a great find this Seminar has been for Benet! It’s been an honor and a pleasure to work with these students, and to see the program’s growth and evolution over the years.

Editors Note: If you would like to be one of our speakers, please contact Br. Guy Jelinek, gjelinek@procopius.org or Lynn Mertz, Lmertz@benet.org

FROM OUR FUTURE LEADERS

Senior Leadership is a chance for us seniors to get together once a week and learn important truths about life from leaders who know what they're talking about.

Brian Torbik '10

It's a unique experience getting to hear from all types of leaders in the community.

Mary Kate Veselik '10

Everyone who speaks has so much to offer and I appreciate the wisdom that has been shared.

Kelly Carney '10

I like to hear all the different speakers' views on what leadership is in the world.

Bryan Corrigan '10

As seniors, were getting ready to move on to the next chapter of our lives, and Senior Leadership on Fridays is like the teachers giving us their last words of wisdom before we leave.

Jessie Sweet '10

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