Two weeks ago, the LEO Club officers traveled to Washburn University for the second annual Leadership Challenge Event. Jaden Scott, Regan Wertz, Lindsey Allen, Kieran Bradley, juniors; and Amelia Baumgardner, sophomore; were the chosen delegates to represent Louisburg High School at this fast paced conference.
Kimberly Payton, LEO Club advisor, didn’t quite know what to anticipate. The event schedule was packed tight, leaving no time to waste. When they first arrived to the Washburn campus, the team was rushed for time from the start.
The first day of the conference was full of seminars from business owners in the Topeka community. The team traveled around campus both together and separately to go to their assigned meeting rooms.
Photo by Kieran Bradley.
“On the first day I wasn’t sure how the meetings were going to tie into the simulation the next day, but I made sure to take notes and pay attention and absorb as much as I could,” Regan Wertz, LEO Club delegate, said.
After the tiring day was over, teams met up in the hotel for an ice cream social. People from every team were interacting and getting to know one another.
“The day was stressful and it was nice to have some down time and get to know people from other schools,” Wertz said.
Once all of the ice cream was gone, the teams headed up to their rooms only imagining what challenge they would be faced with the next day. Day two would be top secret to all delegates and advisors. The Washburn staff knew what problem the teams would face, but their lips were sealed.
The second day arrived faster than the blink of an eye. Before they knew it the teams were up and eating breakfast by 6:00 a.m. Amelia Baumgardner, sophomore, had arrived late that night missing the first day of meetings due to a softball game.
“I was nervous at first, especially missing the first day, but once my team filled me in and we got into a routine, things got better,” Baumgardner said.
The teams went to an opening ceremony where they learned what situation they would be faced with. A projector screen dropped from the ceiling, revealing that a community leader had embezzled $4 million from the fictitious community. Each team was a designated a local business or organization in this made up community, Louisburg being the “Central Kansas School District.”
Each student had a specific role to play in their organization. In the “Central Kansas School District,” the positions were as followed: Jaden Scott, Superintendent; Regan Wertz, Vice President of Administration; Kieran Bradley, Director of Education Programs; Lindsey Allen, Director of Student Development; and Amelia Baumgardner, Vice President of Human Resources.
“It was an amazing, fun team atmosphere anchored with a professional atmosphere,” Payton said.
Right away the teams broke up and went to different rooms spread out across campus. There were different timed rounds. In each round, the teams had to figure out a new budget that would compensate for the stolen money. The teams collaborated as a whole, and worked individually on what cuts to make within the budget.
“It was really frustrating because of the time crunch, but looking back it really taught me how to be a better leader,” Wertz said.
The teams had to work together, and communication and collaboration were key. A judge, who was present in all of the team rooms along with “secret judges” around campus, watched, making sure that each person stayed in role and worked as a team; if anyone faltered, or broke character, it resulted in a lower score.
At the end of the day, everyone had to present their financial plans and answer questions from a group of judges. Stage fright was hardly a concern because the teams were ready to show off their hard work.
“I have a whole new respect for our administration and the choices that they have to make,” Allen said.
Photo by Kieran Bradley.
The day came to a close with a ceremony announcing the winner. Each team sat together with anticipation and was presented a medal and a t-shirt. Though Louisburg didn’t receive the grand prize, the takeaway was remarkable.
“It was a really good opportunity for us to learn what being a leader is and how to become a better leader,” Wertz said.
Washburn University helped the attending students grow as people and truly respect all of the effort that goes into making decisions at the administrative level.