UMAC hosts first-ever Student-Athlete Leadership Academy
SUPERIOR, Wis.---Nearly 30 years ago, Dr. Carol Dweck began studying attitudes of students around failure and quickly coined theories of fixed and growth mindsets. While a fixed mindset focuses on a static attitude toward abilities and intelligence, a growth mindset is an understanding the abilities and intelligence can be developed.
As part of the inaugural class of the 2018 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Student-Athlete Leadership Academy, 65 student-athletes from all nine full-member UMAC institutions had the opportunity to put that theory to the test over the course of three days at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, Sept. 8-10.
In conjunction with the conference’s “10-Year Celebration,” the UMAC Student-Athlete Leadership Academy provided student-athletes with intensive and engaging programming related to strengths-based learning, growth-mindset and values-based decision-making as part of a conference initiative to help develop and encourage leadership within UMAC athletics programs.
“In the last few years, our membership has consistently asked to see programming for student-athletes focused on developing leadership and program culture,” said UMAC Commissioner Corey Borchardt. “With our recent establishment of redefined conference core values, mission and vision statements, this was the perfect time to put together this opportunity that focuses on many aspects of leadership for UMAC student-athletes.”
Student-athletes began exploring strengths-based learning Saturday, Sept. 8 upon arrival at Wisconsin-Superior. Facilitators Holly Roepke, Assistant Athletic Director for Diversity, Inclusion and Student Success at Grinnell College, and Tyler Burmeister, Student Development Coordinator at the University of North Dakota, led participants through an in-depth dive into their five signature themes as determined through the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment. Participants learned about each of their primary strengths, what they bring to a team and how to work with and support leadership in others using their strengths.
“The thing that I learned the most about myself is that I have a strong ‘arranger’ quality which I can use to help our team become more successful,” said Kyle Wallace, junior baseball player from Northland College. “I learned a lot of information that will help me to succeed in many aspects of my life, especially in baseball and helping our team to be successful.”
From the outset, student-athletes were challenged to push beyond their comfort zones in order to grow and develop as leaders over the three days. Sunday’s programming included interactive activities and small group discussion around strengths-based learning, as well as a panel of former student-athletes who shared their perspective and advice on being a Division III student-athlete.
Student-athletes were then challenged to embrace a growth mindset throughout the remainder of the weekend by employing the “Power of Yet.” Instead of traditional thinking around phrases such as “I can’t,” Roepke and Burmeister pushed students to change their thinking to, “I can’t, yet.”
Immediately following the discussion of growth mindset, participants engaged in hands-on learning at the Wisconsin-Superior Challenge Ropes Course. Over a four-hour time span, attendees competed in team-building games and activities and participated in both low and high ropes activities.
“It was really rewarding to see the immediate impact the growth mindset discussion had on the student-athletes to challenge their thinking during the course of the four hours at the ropes course,” said Sara Quinnell, UMAC assistant commissioner. “There was a lot of apprehension toward participating in the ropes course from a good number of athletes. Through teamwork and internal resolve and determination, student-athletes conquered their fears, completed the daunting high ropes course and were rewarded with an exhilarating trip down the zip line. It was inspiring to see some students break down their barriers and others work to help fellow athletes through the course.”
The ropes course was easily a fan-favorite of student-athletes, but some of the most impactful programming and takeaways came on Monday during the final sessions. Student-athletes worked through an exercise to determine personal core values before meeting with other individuals from their institutions to develop a plan of action for taking concepts back to campus.
The weekend concluded with each individual sharing one concept that they will commit to when they head back to their respective teams and campuses. Common themes included developing team core values and implementing growth concepts into team culture, utilizing individual and team strengths to find success and bringing back team-building activities to strengthen the bonds among all institutional athletic programs and develop a greater affinity for athletics within the campus community.
Lottie Ellis, sophomore soccer and softball player at Crown College, indicated that the purpose and goals of the Leadership Academy were fulfilled for many student-athletes who attended. “The student-athlete leadership conference allowed us to grow as individuals and provided us with the tools necessary to better our teams,” said Ellis.
In addition to the Leadership Academy mission to provide student-athletes to grow and thrive as leaders and learners, Borchardt laid out in his welcome letter to student-athletes that two of the UMAC core values – community and growth – would be on display throughout the weekend. Over the course of the program, it was clear to Borchardt that one of the greatest areas of impact of the Leadership Academy was the interaction among student-athletes from other UMAC institutions and sense of community on display.
“One of the highlights for me was seeing genuine connections being formed between athletes who are often rivals on the court or field,” said Borchardt. “This weekend provided an opportunity to further develop the sense of community among our student-athletes and foster conference growth as student-athletes learned from engaging with one another. We are so grateful for the time and energy that student-athletes committed to the Leadership Academy.
“This is only the beginning of the meaningful programming that we hope to provide student-athletes from UMAC institutions as we embrace our redeveloped core values, mission and vision that will lead us into our strategic plan for the next three years keeping the student-athlete experience at the center of all our initiatives.”