Rider's Leadership Development Program team places 3rd in Collegiate Leadership Competition

A team of seven students in Rider's Leadership Development Program (LDP) placed third in their first Collegiate Leadership Competition at Widener University on April 22.

During the intense day-long competition, the team was challenged to complete six leadership challenges that tested their teamwork and problem-solving skills. They were judged against five other institutions, including Cabrini, Widener, Virginia Commonwealth University and Penn State – Abington on their process and results.

“With this being our first time competing, placing in the top three is a wonderful accomplishment and gives us the motivation to compete next year," says LDP Director Laura Seplaki. "What is most impressive, though, is how much the students learned through the process and how their leadership skills have been broadened and strengthened. I couldn’t be more proud.”

The Collegiate Leadership Competition (CLC) is a nonprofit in its third year, and this is the first year that it has expanded from a couple of teams in one region to multiple teams in four regions. It is the first of its kind — a practice field for college students to train and test their leadership of self and others. Rider’s team gathered on a weekly basis during the spring semester to learn the CLC curriculum and prepare for the competition.

The students representing Rider’s team were freshman Jessica Flaherty, a human resource management and management and leadership double major; freshman John Vandevert, voice performance; freshman Sonia Sosa, accounting; sophomore Starlett Hartley, psychology and political science; junior Ashley Leeds, psychology; junior Rushae Glover, marketing, global supply chain management and international business; and junior Jack Olear, business administration. The team coaches were Seplaki and Jessica Lascano ’15.

The LDP was established in 2004 to help teach students to become effective leaders. LDP students are required to participate in seminars and earn credits in addition to their normal course load, as well actively lead in groups and organizations both on and off campus. The LDP helps Rider keep its promise of preparing students to become leaders, approaching the task through the prism that anyone can develop the capacity for leadership no matter their personality traits.