Attila the Hun Lends a Hand
Attila the Hun Lends a Hand
September 4, 2002
Images of a dark figure fighting battles in ancient history filled
the minds of 30 Camden Academy Charter High School students as part
of a special leadership program held by Rowan University July 8
through August 2. The ancient figure, Attila the Hun, wouldn't
ordinarily be thought of as a role model. But, for this new
leadership program, he was the perfect choice.
Reflected in a popular management book titled <+>Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun,<+> attributes of courage, self-discipline, morale and physical and mental stamina are skills Rowan aimed to develop in the students who are poised for leadership roles in the Academy's student government, clubs and activities. <+>We wanted to engage them in an area that will be vital for their school and community,? said William Myers, assistant dean of students.
After learning leadership skills from the treacherous Attila, students absorbed lessons from Myers in a <+>Master Skills in Leadership Symposium<+> and later met with real-life public leaders like Camden Mayor Gwendolyn Faison, State Senator Wayne Bryant, Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez, and other prominent leaders of the Camden community.
Myers noted, <+>The students were amazed when they learned that a public leader they had met was an architectural engineer, which was a field some of them were interested in. It made the students think that they could be leaders too.<+>
Rowan's leadership program also introduced Camden Academy students to leadership in another academy - the college academy. Students spoke with professors and students on leadership in the third week of the program held at Rowan's Glassboro campus. Topics such as, <+>The Student Leadership Experience,<+> <+>Recognizing Leadership,<+> and <+>Service Learning and Leadership<+> were addressed followed by team building exercises and other fun activities for leaders.
Some of Attila's leadership skills were then put to practical use in real-life internships. Students learned what college studies were really like by spending their final week at Rowan in the academic setting of their choice with professors and others in engineering, information technology, biology, theatre, WGLS, childcare, health promotion/fitness and library services.
<+>We wanted to engage students in an activity meaningful to them because leaders exist in every vocation,<+> Myers said.
Rowan engaged the excited students in fun projects like dissecting pigs, performing bridge simulations, observing computer hardware repairs, producing news programs, learning about library resources, and setting up lights and fixtures for an upcoming stringed instrument performance.
One student interning in the biology lab beamed, <+>I liked the program a lot. I'm interested in becoming a medical doctor, and I know I'll have to take biology so this was really exciting for me.<+>
Myers said, <+>This program has a lot of promise. We want to get the students thinking about leadership, especially in their community, and the impact they can have on not just the city but the region.<+>
Reflected in a popular management book titled <+>Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun,<+> attributes of courage, self-discipline, morale and physical and mental stamina are skills Rowan aimed to develop in the students who are poised for leadership roles in the Academy's student government, clubs and activities. <+>We wanted to engage them in an area that will be vital for their school and community,? said William Myers, assistant dean of students.
After learning leadership skills from the treacherous Attila, students absorbed lessons from Myers in a <+>Master Skills in Leadership Symposium<+> and later met with real-life public leaders like Camden Mayor Gwendolyn Faison, State Senator Wayne Bryant, Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez, and other prominent leaders of the Camden community.
Myers noted, <+>The students were amazed when they learned that a public leader they had met was an architectural engineer, which was a field some of them were interested in. It made the students think that they could be leaders too.<+>
Rowan's leadership program also introduced Camden Academy students to leadership in another academy - the college academy. Students spoke with professors and students on leadership in the third week of the program held at Rowan's Glassboro campus. Topics such as, <+>The Student Leadership Experience,<+> <+>Recognizing Leadership,<+> and <+>Service Learning and Leadership<+> were addressed followed by team building exercises and other fun activities for leaders.
Some of Attila's leadership skills were then put to practical use in real-life internships. Students learned what college studies were really like by spending their final week at Rowan in the academic setting of their choice with professors and others in engineering, information technology, biology, theatre, WGLS, childcare, health promotion/fitness and library services.
<+>We wanted to engage students in an activity meaningful to them because leaders exist in every vocation,<+> Myers said.
Rowan engaged the excited students in fun projects like dissecting pigs, performing bridge simulations, observing computer hardware repairs, producing news programs, learning about library resources, and setting up lights and fixtures for an upcoming stringed instrument performance.
One student interning in the biology lab beamed, <+>I liked the program a lot. I'm interested in becoming a medical doctor, and I know I'll have to take biology so this was really exciting for me.<+>
Myers said, <+>This program has a lot of promise. We want to get the students thinking about leadership, especially in their community, and the impact they can have on not just the city but the region.<+>