Crittenden County students attend
Career Awareness & Leadership Institute

June 24, 2005 -- This morning 53 students, age 14–20, from Crittenden County graduated from the inaugural Career Awareness and Leadership Institute on the campus of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

Graduation was the culmination of five days of career and leadership workshops, labs and activities. The program was a pilot project for ASU-Jonesboro coordinated with Mid-South Community College in West Memphis.

“Students began the week with an interest and value identification test for career exploration,” said Dr. Lonnie Williams, associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs.

The departments of Counseling Services, Career Services and Tribal Leadership provided various fun and enlightening activities, workshops with role playing, computer labs and research, as well as leadership training and skills. “Students developed short-term and long-term goals in hopes that they will return to Crittenden County with plans to pursue higher education,” Williams said.

On Thursday, the students participated in the “Ropes Course” for team building and leadership at the ASU Armory, thanks to the assistance of the ASU ROTC officers and cadets.

“Many of these students were out of their comfort zone, being away from home for the very first time. We wanted them to be exposed to college life and to instill the need to pursue a college education,” said Barbara Murray-Reid, Youth Services Director for Mid-South Community College.

Reid oversees the students during a year-round program in Crittenden County through the federally funded Title I Program.

Reid developed and submitted the proposal to ASU for this institute, working with Dr. Williams. “He has worked with us on the program and the students are learning so much and having a great time,” she added.

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