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President’s Column
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The vast number of students at Carroll Community College who demonstrate outstanding leadership skills every day is very gratifying for me. As I interact with students through different events, activities, and forums, I have the wonderful opportunity to meet with students one-on-one and to hear their stories. Recently, I attended the Emerging Leaders breakfast with my vice presidents and other administrators here in the Student Life Lounge in the K building. The students who were present that morning were participants in the college's Leadership Challenge program. They spoke so eloquently about what leadership means to them. They were self-confident, polished, and well-accomplished. I give much credit to these students for all that they have achieved through their personal hard work and dedication. However, I believe that the college's Leadership Challenge program has played a major role in their personal and academic development. The program is an opportunity for students to advance their leadership experience. It focuses on developing skills on a personal, group, and community level. Students in the program build portfolios which demonstrate their skills and involvement. They establish an excellent network of connections to students, college faculty and staff, and community members. Students inevitably learn more about themselves in the process. The wonderful aspect of this program is that it augments student academic learning. I am very pleased about the fact that students grow personally through their participation while they grow academically by pursuing a degree at Carroll.In order to be successful in life, students need more than book knowledge. Certainly, the skills they have learned in the classroom will serve them well. Yet, the ability to communicate well, lead other people, and exude self-esteem will serve graduates well in the workplace. Our graduates go on to prestigious four-year universities, continue on a path towards obtaining their master and doctorate degrees, and are hired by major employers representing every industry in today's economy. I am certain that the leadership training they gain while studying at Carroll plays a major role in their future achievements. I wish to thank the faculty and staff who serve as role models and leadership mentors to our students. On a related note, the story on page 3 about the college's travel study to Costa Rica demonstrates another program furthering students' leadership skills. I believe that after living and studying abroad, students will return with enhanced capacity to apply their language skills to their future endeavors. Dr. Faye Pappalardo |
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