A group of University of Miami students will host the LAUNCH Leadership Summit to provide students with the unique opportunity to explore leadership, organizational, and professional skills to become a future leader at and beyond campus.
On Sunday, Feb. 18, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Donna E. Shalala Student Center Activities Room, the summit is set to offer a diverse range of engaging workshops and feature a variety of keynote speakers from across the University, including Patricia A. Whitely, senior vice president of student affairs and alumni engagement, and Niles Niseem, president of Student Government. Attendees will have the chance to learn about conflict resolution, entrepreneurship, how to gain funding for their clubs, and how to market themselves and their organizations.
“We want this to be a collaboration between students in an immersive setting,” said Angela Ansah, vice president of Student Government and the lead organizer of the event. “I feel like there are so many amazing resources for students that they just don’t know exist. Being in the position that I am, I want to be able to share this information so that they can get the most out of their college experience.”
The student-run event will also provide networking opportunities for students to connect with their peers who share a similar passion for leadership and personal growth. The organizers of the summit are optimistic about the impact that LAUNCH will have on the student body and are committed to cultivating an empowering environment.
“Traditionally, LAUNCH was aimed at first-year students, but this year, we decided it was best to open it up to all students because we want everyone to have the chance to learn and grow,” said Anita Perera, a sophomore studying mathematics and biochemistry. Last year, she was the project coordinator of Student Government’s First-Year Leadership Council (FLC).
During the summit, another important topic will be addressed that the organizers feel will help students who are new to the University.
“I think one of the core problems that we’re also addressing through this summit is that sometimes students, like transfers, don’t know where to start with creating their own organization,” said Fernando Sepulveda Sagaseta, a member of FLC. “I believe this is a great chance to provide more equity across campus and also provide a platform for those who are here to help get the word out.”
Ziara Pichardo, a first-year student majoring in architectural engineering and a member of FLC, designed this year’s logo theme and sweatshirts.
“I thought about balloons, and I thought about launching, so I came up with a couple different ideas and we settled on this one,” said Pichardo. “Through this process, I learned about submitting a design request, which is also another tool that is really important that students can learn about by attending this summit.”
To register for the event, fill out the LAUNCH Leadership Summit form.
