LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University volleyball student-athlete,
Jessica Lea, is headed to Washington D.C. for the Red Cross/NAIA Collegiate Leadership Program.
NAIA student-athletes from select campuses will travel to Washington, D.C. for two weeks of energetic leadership training at the Red Cross National Headquarters, from June 7-18.
Now in its fourth year, the Red Cross/NAIA Collegiate Leadership Program continues to inspire, motivate and create a new and diverse generation of Red Cross volunteers and leaders through exemplifying the five core values of the NAIA Champions of Character program. These core values are integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership. As part of its support of Red Cross diversity initiatives, State Farm Insurance is sponsoring this partnership.
"We nominated Jessi for this program because of her already demonstrated leadership capabilities" EOU Director of Athletics Rob Cashell said. "This program will enhance those skills and help her continue to affect her team, our department and the University in such a positive way."
During their time in Washington, DC, the 2010-11 class will participate in a rare and unique opportunity to acquire first-hand coaching, mentoring and professional leadership training presented by senior leadership at the Red Cross, one of the nation's largest non-profit organizations. In addition, Rob Haworth, NAIA vice president for Champions of Character, will meet with the students during the two week leadership academy.
Student-athletes will also learn from civic and business leaders how to uncover their leadership potential off the field. Participants will learn about organizing successful campus blood drives, actively participate on a leadership board, and take part in diversity and cultural competency training. For their efforts, students will receive scholarship support provided by the Red Cross and State Farm Insurance.
The program is part of a larger Red Cross diversity strategy for moving the Red Cross from awareness to action, building Red Cross capacity to serve all Americans.
The program is designed to:
• Inspire a new generation of Red Cross volunteers and leaders
• Promote diversity of Red Cross Blood Region boards of directors
• Champion a philanthropic cause
• Impact local communities
• Exemplify the core values of the NAIA Champions of Character program
• Provide training, coaching, mentoring and networking opportunities
• Foster leadership opportunities
In the program's four year history there has been a combined 65% increase in blood collections and a 47% increase in blood drives at participating colleges and universities and over 4,900 first-time blood donors at Red Cross/NAIA program drives. With the 2010 class, 50 student-athletes will have participated in leadership development at Red Cross headquarters in Washington, D.C. and over 42 college and university campus communities have been impacted by the initiative.
Lea was named to the AVCA NAIA All-Northwest Region Team and Cascade Conference First Team. The sophomore was second in the conference in hitting percentage (.311), 10th in kills per set (2.6), sixth in assists per set (5.8), and 20th in digs per set (2.5). Lea was named to the league's First Team in her freshman season last year.
The 2010-2011 Red Cross/NAIA Collegiate Leadership Program participants are: April Pressler (Baker University, Kan.); Joe Fitch (Central Christian College, Kan.);
Jessica Lea (Eastern Oregon University); Amber Rafko (Madonna University, Mich.); Hanna Malak (Menlo College, Calif.); Jacob Fox (Oklahoma City University); Rebecca Colling (Peru State University, Neb.); Alexandria Starr (Purdue University Calumet, Ind.); Olivia Goodall (Reinhardt College, Ga.); Lark Nightengale (William Carey University, Miss.); Steve Clark (Fisher College, Mass.); Jonathan Rogers (Bethel College, Ind.); Patrick Turner (Holy Names University, Calif.).
