Student council workshops bring hundreds of future leaders to Mississippi College for two-day summit

Tori Holloway speaks to student council representatives from throughout the state during the Capital Area Student Council Workshop at Mississippi College.

Tori Holloway, program manager at LaChica Sports and Entertainment, challenged hundreds of high school student council representatives to consider three questions while they attended the annual Capital Area Student Council Workshop at Mississippi College on Nov. 9.

“What kind of leader are you right now? What kind of leader do you want to be? And what are you going to do to make that happen?”

Holloway, who spearheads program development at the all-female sport management and athlete impact firm, served as a guest speaker at the workshop for high school leaders.

Christopher Washam, professor and chair of the MC Department of Kinesiology, spoke during the workshop for junior high school leaders the previous day.

Together, they reached more than 700 student council representatives and program directors representing 35 schools from throughout the state gathered in the A.E. Wood Coliseum on the Clinton campus.

Mississippi College partners with the Mississippi State Association of Student Councils to host their workshops. The MC Office of Continuing Education sponsored the event, which provides valuable advice from business and educational leaders.

Attendees visited service booths and participated in breakout sessions to help grow their leadership skills. Several students participate in MC’s “Sponsor a Child” Program by providing toys, clothes and personal goods for disadvantaged children at Christmas.

Participants return to their schools and share the leadership and service ideas they learned at MC.

Schools large and small sent representatives to the event. For student council advisors like Shaunte Watts of Newton High School, the workshop provides a blueprint for how a student council should function.

“Our officers learn what student council presidents, vice presidents, secretaries and other officers are supposed to do,” said Watts, who brought her group to MC for the third straight year. “The students learn the rules and regulations of the student council and the role of the student council inside the classroom and inside the school district.”

The workshops began with a “Wakeup Call” by Mississippi College cheerleaders. Ken Gilliam, MC director of continuing education, provided opening remarks, Lillian Johnson, executive director of the Mississippi Association of Student Councils, gave opening remarks, and Shari Barnes, MC director of afterschool programs in the Office of Continuing Education, explained community giving opportunities available to the students.

Following each keynote address, the students participated in several breakout sessions conducted by MC student government representatives and an advisor workshop led by the Mississippi Student Council Association.

Watts said the workshops make a lasting impact on students.

“They get a chance to meet student council members from other schools and they even make lifelong friends,” she said. “The advisors collaborate, network and share information to support one another. All through the school year, we exchange information to strengthen our student council.

“The workshops provide a wonderful experience for students who haven’t experienced a college tour. It opens their eyes to see what college life could be like for them at Mississippi College.”

For more information about participating in the Capital Area Student Council Workshop at MC, email Gilliam at gilliam@mc.edu.