CDLS Rows In Record

The Center for the Development of Leadership Skills’ Team Leadership Challenge 2012: “Navigating Your Path to Success” made an even bigger splash in Richard A. Coppola Pool on April 15, with a record-breaking number of cardboard canoes staying afloat.

“For the first two years of this event, one boat made it across the pool each time. This year, eight out of the 14 boats built made it across,” said Laura Seplaki, associate director of the CDLS and director of the Leadership Development Program.”Each of the top three teams made it to the end of the pool within one minute.”

The Team Leadership Challenge involves student teams putting their leadership and team-building skills to the test as they construct cardboard canoes and race their creations across the Richard A. Coppola Pool.

This year, CDLS teamed up with Recreational Programs and the Organizational Leadership program, as well as the Office of Greek Life, as part of its Greek Week activities. Prior to the race, each team was required to attend a two-hour workshop designed to provide leadership training and cardboard canoe building preparation.
As part of her capstone assignment for LEAD 598: Project Seminar in Organizational Leadership, graduate student Vanessa Velez, M.A. ’12 helped to organize the event with Seplaki, Dianna Clauss, assistant director of Campus Life for Recreation Programs, and Ashley Broskey, coordinator of Greek Life.

The overall three teams with the fastest times were:

First Place: Team SLC

Kristin Anderson ’13

Shane Fitzgerald ’13

Sara Harrison-Lusk ’12

Brian Jones ’13

Michelle Figueiredo ’13

Second Place: Team Alpha Phi Omega 2

Lee Clark ’14

Winnie MacKintosh ’14

Jeannie Tran ’14

Lauren Zarillo ’13

Third Place: Team Cardboard Canoe Wars

Dominique Pesco ’14

Jenna Kelly ’14

Matt Sheridan ’14