VA Student-Athletes Attend Leadership Symposium
On Thursday, November 7th a group of nine Vermont Academy student-athletes traveled with Mr. Dan Allen and Ms. Savanna Poole to the first-ever Lakes Region Student-Athlete Leadership Symposium held at New Hampton School. Over 50 athletes attended from eight area independent schools.
At the symposium, Vermont Academy students learned about leadership from Dolph Clinton, the founder of the Deep Wells Group, and choose two of five workshops to participate in. The workshop topics included social media and the potential negative effects on athletes, teams, and institutions, a call to action in athletics, what does it mean to be a team leader, accountability as the key for team success, and you are your leadership. Find more information on the five workshops offered, here and biographies of the presenters, here.
Upon reflecting on the symposium the students said:
I enjoyed meeting student-athletes from other schools and hearing about how our school and team cultures differ but are also similar. - Izzy ’21
It was an honor to represent our school at the Leadership Conference. I enjoyed working with people from other schools and hearing their opinions on leadership. I also strengthened my understanding of leadership. I learned new ways to hold the team accountable, which is very important in my opinion. This conference showed me that it is necessary to understand other people’s cultures and to not be afraid to step out for others even though it can be very hard. - Klara ’20 (committed to play hockey at Colby College)
I think that the leadership symposium was an amazing experience/opportunity to learn more about leadership. Be able to hear different perceptions from coaches, athletes or my opponents was very helpful. It is my goal to bring the things that I learned to my teams this winter and spring. - Charles ’20
The symposium gave me a better understanding of what it is to be a leader, and what it truly means to lead by example. - Andrew P. ’20
“True leaders don’t create followers they create more leaders.” - Syd ’20
“I thought it was a good way to interact with other athletes who we compete against every year. In the small info sessions, I learned more about leadership and what we could implement into our teams at VA." -Ella B. ’20
“I felt the leadership symposium was a unique experience. I've never had an experience like that. I left feeling confident with a full set of helpful tools to take back to campus and utilize as a leader.” - Hillary ’21
Vermont Academy is a coed college preparatory boarding and day school in southern Vermont, serving grades 9-12 plus a postgraduate year.
