The East Coast Conference held its sixth annual Experience in Community and Character Leadership Workshop at Molloy College. Over 40 East Coast Conference student-athletes from all 11 member institutions participated in the program. Samantah Lane and KC Sokolski of the Women's Basketball team represented St. Thomas Aquinas along with Marcus Henderson and Chaz Watler of the Men's Basketball team.
"This was our sixth annual ECC Leadership event and I
continue to see each year how we help with the growth of the young
men and women who participate," said ECC Commissioner, Dr. Robert
Dranoff. " Our philosophy is to try to provide some important
information in a fun setting, one that allows
student-athletes from all around our conference to build
relationships, interact, and accept new ideas and to have a chance
to give back and help others."
The weekend kicked-off with a leadership style assessment
run by Melissa Perry, Associate Director of Athletics at NYIT. The
session gave the student-athletes a chance to determine their own
leadership styles using a DiSC assessment. DiSC stands for four
behavioral tendencies: D - Dominance; i - Influence; S -
Steadiness; C - Conscientiousness.
A trip to St. Martin de Porres Marianist School in
Uniondale, N.Y. followed. The student-athletes spoke to the third,
fourth, and fifth graders about the importance of teamwork and
fitness. Then for over an hour, the ECC student-athletes led the
children in activities and games that focused on working together
as a team to accomplish a goal.
After returning from the elementary school, the
student-athletes were given a presentation titled “What Kind
of Leader are You,” by Bob Wolf of HOPE® (Helping Other
People Excel). Wolf, an experienced sales trainer, motivational
speaker, and sales & marketing executive, spoke about four
skills every student needs. Those included interpersonal,
communication, presentation, and selling skills. Wolf also stressed
that, “becoming an effective leader is a life-long process
which involves meeting, communicating with, earning support from
and working effectively with people.”
As the student-athletes ate dinner, they were treated to
another guest-speaker, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and
Recreation at NYIT, Clyde Doughty, Jr. Among the topics Doughty
discussed were the things one learns as a student-athlete are
transferrable to the work world and that student-athletes still
need to work hard to show future employers how they stand
out.
Saturday morning began with a presentation from Steve Webb,
founder of the Team Up 4 Community organization. Webb, a former New
York Islander, spoke about the difference he feels student-athletes
can make in their local communities.
Two breakout sessions followed with the first featuring,
Allison Halbig, a former NYIT student-athlete and now a Sale Team
Manager at Sports Authority, discussing the transition from college
to the professional world and the relevant skills learned as a
student-athlete.
The student-athletes learned how to sell themselves and help
take charge of their own lives in the other breakout session run by
former NCAA student-athlete, John Dano.
The leadership sessions wrapped up with a thought provoking
diversity program with Dr. Nancy Kaplan and Lamar Lee from the
National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS).
The event culminated with a carnival for local youth in
Molloy's Quealy Gymnasium. Over 50 children, including many
that participate in the Miracle League of Long Island, and their
families showed up for the event which featured carnival games and
craft stations run by the student-athletes.
"This year's speakers were excellent once again," stated
Dranoff. "They continue to make a great impression, offering a
combination of interactive programming and essential information."
Dranoff continued "The highlight continues to be our visits with
area children to talk about the importance of fitness and teamwork
as well as our weekend ending carnival where our student-athletes
always shine. Special thanks also go to Kristine Fitzpatrick, the
Miracle League of Long Island's Executive Director, who helped
promote the event to many of her athletes and their
families."
The event also helped bring the ECC together with another
conference from the NCAA Division II East Region, the Central
Atlantic Collegiate Conference. "We were pleased to host Ellen
O'Brien from the CACC and Kelly McBryan from Goldey-Beacom along
with their CACC student-athlete representatives," Dranoff noted.
"As we continue to develop this important program we hope to work
with the CACC on ways to expand it and offer opportunities to even
more student-athletes to build leadership skills and
qualities."