Students build leadership skills through AT&T grant
January 16, 2012
Office of Communications and Marketing

WILBURTON, OK (Jan. 16, 2012) – Goal setting, career preparation, self-appraisal and communication. These are all valuable leadership skills students at Eastern Oklahoma State College and Wilburton High School have the opportunity to learn thanks to a grant program funded through AT&T.

AT&T contributed $15,000 to Eastern to develop the Leadership: Engagement and Development Series (LEADS), a program to help students gain the self-confidence and leadership skills necessary to stay in school and earn a college degree.

As part of the LEADS program, Eastern has hosted three workshops with several more planned this spring. Oklahoma Senator Josh Breecheen led the first workshop focused on goal setting. Students have also learned how to develop a professional resume and cover letter. On Thursday, Eastern alumnus and First Baptist Church Pastor Doug Miller led a workshop on self-appraisal.

Miller’s message to students was that they must define who they are, discover their potential, develop their skills and realize their purpose in life.

“The goal of self-appraisal is to learn who you are and then tap into your potential. You must take the responsibility yourself,” Miller said. “One of the greatest wastes in our society is that people don’t discover and realize their full potential.”

The topic for the next workshop in the LEADS program is communicating with confidence. Paige Scott, a field representative for Senator Tom Coburn, will share strategies to improve students’ verbal and written communication skills. It will take place Thursday, Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. in Eastern’s Student Center Ballroom. The workshop is free and open to students at Eastern and Wilburton High School.

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Doug Miller, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Wilburton, recently led a workshop on self-appraisal as part of a leadership program at Eastern Oklahoma State College. The Leadership: Engagement and Development Series (LEADS) program is funded through a $15,000 grant from AT&T.