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practice. The program combines and builds upon two he 2018-2019 academic year marked the previous Wilson Center offerings, the Martin Leadership beginning of a four-year leadership track at Program for freshmen and the Society of ’91 for Hampden-Sydney College. Named in honor of sophomores, expanding them into a four-year track that the late College president, the Wilson Leadership Fellows provides the grounded theory and practical experiences Program endeavors to prepare the next generation of needed for a lifetime of service. Dr. John Eastby, Elliott servant leaders in the mold of Lt. Gen. Samuel V. Wilson. professor of government and foreign affairs, and Dr. In its inaugural year, the Wilson Leadership Fellows Curtis Smith, Myers professor of public service, have been Program prepared 47 freshmen to be men of character instrumental in building out the program, according to and to lead lives of influence, guiding them through Pemberton. a year-long process of understanding themselves and After an application process that requires a nomination, their spheres of influence. Participants enjoy access to essay, and in-person interview, Wilson Fellows arrive nationally-recognized thinkers and speakers, a four-year on campus ahead of new student orientation for a twoleadership advisor, community-building activities on day, practical exploration of leadership, defined as “the campus, and excursions beyond the Hill. And interest in process by which an individual influences a group to the program is even stronger for 2019-2020 academic year, meet an objective.” Their first days on the Hill include with more than 75 members of the Class of 2023 entering case studies, excursions, and guest the College as Wilson Fellows and almost every member of the “Being introduced to a community lecturers, including one familiar to many alumni: former H-SC professor original cohort returning for the of like-minded people who take an Alan Farrell, who spoke last fall second year of the Fellowship. From their academic interest in leadership was a big help on temporal versus moral authority. Farrell returned to campus this August achievement—the cohort’s average to understanding how I fit in to address the incoming cohort, as did GPA outperformed the freshman several alumni guest speakers whose class average both semesters—to at Hampden-Sydney.” lives have modeled servant leadership. their extracurricular involvement “Freshmen don’t have the in all areas of campus life, the — Michael Van Citters ’22 opportunity to captain athletic teams Wilson Fellows excelled in their or serve on the honor court on day one,” Pemberton says, first year on the Hill and are poised to take on leadership “but that doesn’t mean they can’t make an impact on positions in student government, student publications, campus, learning to lead from where they stand.” This clubs, and residence life this year. principle becomes clear on the cohort’s first excursion to “I can’t say enough about the young men we had Farmville’s Moton Museum, where 16-year-old Barbara the privilege to work with in year one,” says Dr. Ryan Johns’ actions eventually became part of the landmark Pemberton ’00, director of the Wilson Center for Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education, which Leadership in the Public Interest. “I can talk about ended segregation in public schools. “The goal,” explains the things they have been able to accomplish—all Pemberton, “is for our students to understand that they that’s well and good—but I’m even more impressed by can impact those around them in a positive way no matter the type of young men that they are. They’re smart, their formal position in the hierarchy.” humble, hardworking, earnest, and genuinely nice young Throughout their freshman year, Wilson Fellows men—the type of students who make us at the College participate in extracurricular events organized by Smith, exceptionally proud.” former director of the Federal Executive Institute in Foundational goals of the Wilson Fellows Program Charlottesville. “Based on my experience providing include ethical decision making, effective leadership for leadership training for federal executives, I felt that it was diverse contexts, active citizenship, and the civil and important to start off the four-year program with students rational exchange of ideas—goals that are accomplished gaining a better understanding of themselves, the people in part through mentorship, community, reflection, and View THE RECORD online at record.hsc.edu
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