The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets will host cadets and faculty from more than 27 military institutions, academies, and colleges across the country, as well as several military high schools, when they meet on campus March 26 to 28 for the 2013 Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Leadership Conference.

The conference will focus on topics related to servant leadership and how prioritizing service can improve one’s leadership ability. Attendees will also have an opportunity to participate in plenary sessions designed to expand their thinking about personal development.

As part of the conference events, The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets will hold a formal retreat ceremony at the flag pole on Upper Quad behind Lane Hall at 4:45 p.m. on March 26. Lane Hall is located at 280 Alumni Mall. The regiment will be formed between Lane, Shanks, and Major Williams halls. The Color Guard will lower the flag, Skipper, the Corps of Cadets cannon, will fire, and the Highty-Tighties, the regimental band, will play. All are welcome to come view this event.

Former Secretary of Education Bill Bennett will speak to the entire regiment and all visiting guests at the Cutchins Distinguished Lecture at Virginia Tech on March 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the Burruss Hall auditorium located at 800 Drillfield Dr. The Cutchins Distinguished Lecture is sponsored by the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Maj. Gen. W. Thomas Rice Center for Leader Development and the Pamplin College of Business. The lecture is open to the public at no charge and no tickets are required.

Parking information is available online.

Other sessions include a panel discussion on leadership from the noncommissioned officer perspective and a talk on professional competence by retired Col. Richard Roszak, U.S. Air Force, Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Class of 1971.

Cadet Charlotte Semonite of Fort Belvoir, Va., a senior majoring in human development in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences who is pursuing a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development explains why the conference is important

“Our annual leadership conference is always an exciting time for visiting cadets as well as Virginia Tech cadets," she said. "It provides an experience where they can learn about other school’s programs while broadening their own knowledge of ethical leadership. Each year, cadets gather to listen as experts visit our campus and share their knowledge of how leadership has played a major role in their achievements. We are honored to have such a large number of cadets take part in this conference this year and hope that we provide a motivating experience for them to reflect upon when returning home.” 

Semonite is a member of the corps’ Citizen-Leader Track and is serving on the cadet leadership team organizing the conference this year.  

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