Shannon Richardson and Lindsay Beirne, both seniors at UNLV, had spent hours preparing the presentation. With their notes in hand and their experiences to guide them, they felt ready to ask Target Corp. to help bring the LeaderShape Institute to UNLV. But their passion got the better of them.
"There was one point where I sort of abandoned the outline in my head and just really talked about how I felt about LeaderShape and shared what a significant impact it had on me," says Richardson, who had attended a national LeaderShape session in 2005.
Their enthusiasm was not lost on Target representatives Kimberly Kalmbach and Renee Pictor. In mid-February, Target responded with the largest corporate sponsorship the UNLV Division of Student Life has received for a development program. "We had such a positive experience with the students and staff at UNLV," says Kalmbach.
Pictor, a district team leader at Target, adds that the program's goals correlated well with the retail giant's "expect more, pay less" philosophy.
LeaderShape is a nationally recognized leadership development program that takes students on a retreat for six days.
"Students are encouraged to practice new skills, give and receive feedback from peers and faculty, and risk new behaviors in a safe, supportive atmosphere," says Scott Blevins, program coordinator for student leadership at UNLV. "Everyone at the LeaderShape Institute is a teacher and everyone is a learner."
The costs of attending the national session — about $1,000 — limits the number of students who can participate. With Target's assistance, UNLV was able to join about 65 other institutions as a program host and expand the number of Rebels attending.
In May, UNLV held its LeaderShape session at Zion Ponderosa in Mt. Carmel, Utah, with nearly 50 students, selected faculty, and guest speakers from Target. Student participants represented all class levels and a wide range of ages. They were competitively selected in March based on applications and interviews.
"The University of Nevada, Las Vegas prides itself on developing 'the leaders and best' of tomorrow," says Beirne, who graduates in December. "Imagine the impact that 49 UNLV LeaderShape graduates will have on campus."
—Angela Sablan
