Learning to Lead

ATHENS, TEX. – On Sept. 12-15, 2019, more than 120 student leaders from the Union's academies attended leadership camp at Lone Star Camp in Athens, Tex. The event's theme was "Selfless" and was hosted by the Southwestern Union's Education Department, assisted by the student association (SA) of Southwestern Adventist University.

Each fall, academies in the Southwestern Union territory elect SA officers from their respective student bodies to lead and represent each academy. Leadership positions include president, religious vice president, social vice president, yearbook/newspaper editor, etc.

Students took part in breakout sessions about leadership, how to conduct meetings, ethics, planning, and management. They also enjoyed worship sessions, a disaster training simulation and recreational activities.

Director of Secondary Education Mike Furr said, "The purpose of leadership camp is to help prepare student leaders to fulfill the roles that they have been elected to, so that when they get back to their own campuses they will have new and creative ideas and knowledge of how to implement those ideas. Additionally, our intent is to spiritually uplift and inspire our students so that they can return to campus and feel equipped to lead their peers to Christ."

Singbawi Sing, a sophomore at Southwestern Adventist University and an SA officer, said leadership camp was a blessing, as she saw younger students learning, growing and discovering their talents, and that the students enjoyed worshipping and studying the Bible together, bonding as a team of leaders.