[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 137 (Thursday, October 17, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S10651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEADERSHIP

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to highlight a very important 
initiative in my State of Utah, The Center for Advancement of 
Leadership.
  The Center for the Advancement of Leadership was approved by the Utah 
Board of Regents in January of 2001 and operates as a part of the Utah 
Valley State College School of Business.
  The center was established for college students, K-12 students, and 
professional practitioners to accomplish several goals: first, to 
advance leadership and character development education through classes, 
programs, and conferences; second, to expand the body of leadership 
knowledge through studies, projects, and research; and finally, to 
reinforce the importance of ethical behavior in doing business.
  In order to accomplish these goals, The center has undertaken several 
projects designed to establish leadership education programs for each 
of the target demographics mentioned.
  The focal point of The Center is the certification program for 
students from all collegiate disciplines attending Utah Valley State 
College, UVSC. Students may earn a ``Leadership Certificate'' that will 
be a part of their official college transcript by completing 15 credit 
hours in leadership management.
  The Center and the School of Business at UVSC have launched a 
leadership education program that is reaching students in several of 
the local high schools. These students, through state-approved 
concurrent enrollment, are receiving college credit in high school for 
taking School of Business leadership classes.
  UVSC Athletics and the center, along with local school districts and 
community-based organizations, have developed and implemented a program 
titled, ``No Greater Heroes.'' Student athletes from UVSC use a well-
planned script to present a high-powered, energetic program that builds 
self-confidence in young, elementary school-age children. They are 
taught character-development abilities to set high standards for 
themselves.
  The center will also provide support to the ``Why Try'' program for 
junior high schools. ``Why Try'' was created to provide simple hands-on 
solutions for helping youth overcome challenges. The goal of the ``Why 
Try'' program is to help youth answer the question, ``Why try in 
life?'' during times when they are frustrated, confused, or angry with 
life's pressures. It teaches youth that it is worth putting the effort 
in overcoming the challenges at home, at school, and with peers. It 
also provides opportunity from more freedom and self-respect.
  The Center also hosts the Annual Leadership Conference on the campus 
of Utah Valley State College. Keynote speakers in the past have 
included such high-profile individuals as Sheri Dew, Rulon Gardner, Ed 
J. Pinegar, Steve Young, and Denis Waitley. During this 1-day 
conference, attendees are able to learn from some of the best minds in 
the leadership field. In addition to the keynote addresses, 
participants are able to choose from a diverse selection of topics for 
breakout sessions. The topics are tailored to meet the needs of the 
students, advisors, and business and community leaders.
  There is significant demand for the current leadership programs at 
UVSC. Already 15 students have graduated from UVSC with a ``Certificate 
in Leadership,'' 45 are enrolled in the 4-year integrated studies 
program with a leadership emphasis, and over 100 taking classes toward 
the certification program; the concurrent enrollment classes have 
increased from seven high schools to 10 high schools, with 13 more 
waiting to participate; ``No Greater Heroes'' has a waiting list of 
elementary schools wanting to participate; and the attendance at the 
annual conference has grown from a couple of hundred to several 
thousand.
  I commend the center for taking on these important projects. I am 
pleased to be able to share with my colleagues some examples of the 
fine work done by the center. I am very supportive of this program and 
commend it to my colleagues as an excellent example of educational 
innovation.

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