The Job Corps program is known for providing relevant, rigorous job training to give students the vocational skills they need to succeed in new careers. But recently, student leaders from Muhlenberg Job Corps got specialized training in leadership that will benefit them not only in future careers but also throughout their lives

Officers of the Muhlenberg Job Corps Student Government Association joined SGA delegations from eight other Job Corps centers for the Fall 2019 SGA Leadership Conference Nov. 5-8 at Camp Horizons near Harrisonburg, VA.

During the four-day conference students examined specific aspects of effective leadership, including communication, conflict management, team motivation, problem solving, decision making, delegation of responsibilities, and more.

The Muhlenberg Job Corps student leaders joined with SGA officers from the Cleveland Job Corps to form the Spruce team. As a team, the student leaders opened the conference with a series of challenge initiatives that focused on effective verbal and non-verbal communication, teamwork, critical thinking and problem solving. They also put into practice the idea that effective leaders serve others by serving their fellow students during one of the conference meals.

Conference classroom sessions explored many aspects of effective leadership and strategies to improve each participants’ leadership skills. Students also stepped out of their comfort zones by tackling the high ropes course, which included scaling trees, traversing cables high above the ground, zip lining from the treetops to the ground and dropping through the trees on the Giant Swing.

Thursday’s banquet celebration featured guest speaker Art Dean, the executive director of Campus and Community Access and Inclusion at James Madison University in Harrisonburg.  Dean challenged students to focus on their futures rather than dwelling on past mistakes or injustices, saying “There’s more of life in front of you than was behind you.” He also urged them to find positive mentors in their lives and seek their help and advice. “Make your decisions with your future in mind,” Dean told students, encouraging them to avoid the pitfalls of short-term gain decisions and focus on decisions that will help them achieve their goals. Drawing from the song “My Shot” from the Broadway hit “Hamilton,” Dean urged students to set and work toward goals, saying, “Don’t throw away your shot at life.”

The conference concluded with students creating and presenting center action plans to their conference peers. The SGA officers will later present these plans to centers’ senior management staff for consideration and implementation.

The Muhlenberg Job Corps action plan focuses on improving interaction between current SGA leaders, other student leaders and the entire student body through the institution of an interpersonal skills training program. The Muhlenberg student leaders felt that more effective, positive communication between student leaders and the rest of the student body will encourage more students to join leadership, increase student retention and assist staff in dealing with student-related issues.

The Muhlenberg Job Corps SGA delegation included Armand Planter, president; Joshua Lee, vice president; Abraham Wrigley, treasurer; Ariel McLaughlin, public relations; Darren Rooks, committee chair; and Nicole Whitfield, historian. They were accompanied by SPO Assistant/SGA Coordinator Joseph McConnell and CPP Instructor Crystal Chandler.