Bucknell Bison Leadership Academy Continues to Gain Momentum, Leadership Wall Constructed in Langone Athletics & Recreation Center

1/6/2012 7:00:00 AM | General

By: TBD

Jan. 6, 2012

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell Bison Leadership Academy officially launched this fall and was met with extremely positive reviews from both coaches and student-athletes alike. More programming is on tap for the upcoming spring semester, as the Bucknell Department of Athletics and Recreation is committed to expanding the Leadership Academy into an integral part of the Bison student-athlete experience.

In that regard, Bison Athletics is pleased to present a newly constructed “Leadership Wall,” an attractive display featuring head shots of Bison head coaches and student-athlete leaders, located in the main lobby of the Kenneth Langone Athletics and Recreation Center.

The Leadership Wall was made possible by the generosity of William '62 and Elizabeth Dearstyne P'89. A six-time Middle Atlantic Conference champion backstroker, Bill Dearstyne was inducted into the Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame in 1982. He has served on the Bucknell University Board of Trustees and is a loyal and longtime supporter of Bison Athletics. The first Bison swimmer ever to compete at the NCAA Championships, Dearstyne helped establish the Robert A. Latour Swimming & Diving Endowment in 2002.

“I would like to sincerely thank Bill and Tockey Dearstyne for their support in helping us construct this beautiful tribute to the coaches and student-athletes who serve in leadership roles within Bison Athletics,” said director of athletics and recreation John Hardt. “The Bucknell Bison Leadership Academy is still in its infancy, but already its programming has been met with rave reviews, particularly with our student-athletes, who have expressed a genuine desire to improve their leadership skills not just within the framework of their teams, but across all avenues of campus life. Expanding the scope of the Leadership Academy is going to be a major departmental priority moving forward.”

This summer, Bucknell Athletics announced the development of this formal leadership development program, which is designed to help student-athletes learn how to be effective leaders on and off the playing fields. The Bucknell Bison Leadership Academy delivers programming and instruction that bridge theory, development and real experiences in an interactive learning environment. Through this endeavor, team leaders can enhance their impact on their teammates' and their program's performance immediately and for years to come.

“I applaud our athletics department for providing our student-athletes with this exciting new program,” Bucknell President John Bravman said. “We are confident the young men and women participating will take full advantage of all that the Bucknell Bison Leadership Academy has to offer.”

The Bucknell Bison Leadership Academy debuted in October with a pair of 90-minute workshops, one for veteran and emerging student-athlete leaders and the other for coaches, administered by Becky Ahlgren-Bedics, Ed. D, director of leadership education for the Janssen Sports Leadership Center.

Further leadership training will continue in the form of smaller breakout sessions with Bison student-athletes and coaches. Leadership experts will be back on campus in the spring for follow-up workshops, and additional campus-led small-group sessions are also on tap.

The Leadership Wall recognizes designated student-athlete leaders from each of Bucknell's 27 varsity athletics programs, as well as every head coach. The description on the display reads as follows:

Competitive sports at Bucknell dates back to 1870, and more than a century later Bucknell has established itself as a national leader in providing successful academic and athletic opportunities for student-athletes. Today, the Department of Athletics & Recreation strives to set the standard of excellence among all intercollegiate programs by maintaining academic priorities and supporting educational and personal development, all while providing the rigorous and competitive Division I athletics opportunity sought by Bucknell student-athletes.

As Bison Athletics seeks to create a comprehensive learning environment that meshes with the academic mission of the University, an important element of the complete student-athlete experience is participation in an elite leadership development program designed to identify, develop, challenge and support student-athletes and coaches in their continual quest to become leaders in academics, in athletics and in life.

The Bucknell Bison Leadership Academy delivers programming and instruction that bridge theory, development and real experiences in an interactive learning environment. Through this endeavor, team leaders can enhance their impact on their teammates' and their program's performance immediately and for years to come.

This tribute honors those coaches and Bison student-athletes who hold the vision, commitment and character required to lead their teams today, and to be successful global leaders of tomorrow.

Go Bison!