April 15, 2005

Purdue training teen leaders to tackle local community projects

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Student teams from three Tippecanoe County public high schools are learning leadership skills from Purdue University staff and faculty.

"Purdue University has been developing leaders from around the world for generations," said Purdue community relations director Mike Piggott, who coordinates the Tippecanoe's Notable Teens (TNT) program. "It makes sense to use that expertise to help our young people advance themselves and improve our community."

The TNT program kicked off the first weekend of March when a total of 15 students and three sponsors attended an overnight retreat at Camp Tecumseh with instructors from the local Purdue Extension Service and the national FFA organization in Indianapolis. The students learned about different personality types and engaged in problem solving and brainstorming.

During subsequent visits to Purdue throughout the semester, students have learned about other leadership and organizational skills, including diversity. Those skills will be put to use in community improvement projects developed by each of the teams.

The team from Harrison High School initially hoped to build a playground at a low-income apartment complex in Lafayette. A different inspiration struck when the school's beloved barn that serves as an emotion-laden painted message board burned to the ground last month. The team now is determined to use the leadership skills it has learned at Purdue to mobilize the school and community to rebuild the barn.

"The things we have learned at Purdue about improving communication and confidence will enable us to sway people," said Harrison student Laura Smith, 17, whose team is gathering thousands of signatures from those who support rebuilding the barn on a petition to be presented to the Tippecanoe School Corporation and county commissioners. "We've learned how to get the community involved in a positive way and motivate people to work hard."

All of the TNT students who were selected for the program by their schools' administration are currently sophomores and juniors, thus giving them time to make a difference while still in high school. The students from Jefferson and McCutcheon high schools plan to create clubs that welcome and orient freshmen and other newcomers to the student body.

"These students have potential to be leaders," said Bryan Metzger, director of Tippecanoe County's Purdue Extension office. "They didn't need to be established leaders – just interested in learning more."

TNT is modeled after a similar program Purdue President Martin C. Jischke encountered on a visit to Columbus, Ind. Jischke has taken an active role in TNT, including bringing participants to his home on April 4 to take part in the weekly leadership class he teaches.

The teens next come to campus on Wednesday (April 20) to learn servant leadership and ethics from Department of Organizational Leadership and Supervision instructors. Last month, the department provided training on gender roles and conflict resolution.

Harrison guidance counselor and student council adviser Bonnie Crawford praised the program's activities and the quality of instructors, which have included community leaders such as Piggott, newspaper publisher Dennis Dunn, school board member Kathy Dale, and car dealer Nate Barrett.

"They as kids are able to communicate with people they hold in high regard," Crawford said. "The students initially were apprehensive about missing time from academic classes. Now they're saying, 'This is really important. I can miss honors class for this.' I won't have difficulty getting kids in the future."

Students graduate from the TNT program at a dinner on May 2, with Jischke giving the keynote speech. Purdue's Office of Community Relations already is looking into repeating and expanding the program next year with an increased number of area schools.

Writer: Jim Schenke, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu

Sources: Mike Piggott, (765) 494-4636 mpiggott@purdue.edu

Bryan Metzger, (765) 474-0793, bmetzger@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: Media are welcome at TNT events. Contact Mike Piggott to make arrangements. The Harrison High School team will be at the Tippecanoe County Commissioners meeting on Monday (April 18).

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