Senior Brandon Gaylord created the "StandUp Leadership" program at Geneseo.
GENESEO, N.Y. – Juniors and sophomores from 13 area high schools are coming to the SUNY Geneseo campus March 31 to experience a day-long leadership training program created for the first time last year by a Geneseo student focused on empowering tomorrow’s leaders. At least 205 students are expected to attend from high schools in Livingston, Wyoming, and Genesee counties.
The students will experience a day of leadership workshops on topics like “The Power of Introverts,” “Group Dynamics,” and “Public Speaking.” The program runs from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the MacVittie College Union.
“Last year was a huge success and we have almost double the number of students scheduled to attend this year,” said Brandon Gaylord, a senior history major from Phoenix, Ariz., who created and organized the nonprofit “StandUp Leadership” program through the college’s Center for Inquiry, Discovery and Development (CIDD). “We’re hoping this program helps fill a gap in leadership training that is not readily available in all area high schools.”
Students will be attending from the Geneseo, Avon, York, Livonia, Dansville, Wayland-Cohocton, Caledonia-Mumford, Leroy, Perry, Alexander, Attica, and Elba School Districts as well as from BOCES (Board of Education Cooperative Services).
Participants will hear presentations from some of the same leadership trainers who make presentations for SUNY Geneseo students through the award-winning Geneseo Opportunities for Leadership Development (GOLD) Program, which provided the model for “StandUp Leadership.” Also participating are retired teachers and educational psychologists.
Between workshop sessions, area employers and college admissions and financial aid advisers will be present to network with the students on job and college opportunities.
Gaylord created the program last year as the Geneseo Alumni Association Ambassador in the CIDD. The center awards numerous $5,000 grants to students each year. The ambassadorships are funded by generous donors to carry out self-directed, transformational projects on campus, within the local community or around the world.