The Leadership Institute Award Dinner was held on Wednesday, April 20, 2016, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Galloping Hill Caterers in Union.  The dinner honored and congratulated approximately 120 leadership students in the Leadership Institute for their hard work throughout the 2015-2016 academic year.

Graduating seniors received a stole, those with honors received a cord, and a Leadership Institute medal was given to those who completed all four years of the program.

The keynote speaker for the evening was Tyrone Steed, Volunteer Service Program Manager at the VA Hospital of East Orange. He organizes volunteer programs at the hospital as well as people who wish to work as volunteers at the VA Hospital East Orange location.

During the dinner, Steed talked about the hospital and the ways in which it helps veterans. Steed was presented with a check of $3,134.11, which was the total amount raised by the Gold and Silver levels of the Leadership Institute.

Taylor Williams, a senior majoring in Biology with the concentration in physical therapy and a Senior Leadership Specialist, stated, “The dinner was spectacular. And our students were honored for all of their hard work and enjoyed the company of all different levels. This year, our leadership students raised those funds for the VA Hospital of East Orange through bake sales, promotional events and our large event, the Military Ball.”

The Leadership Institute is a four-year certification program, which offers five different leadership programs through the Center for Leadership and Service. These programs include: T2K Bronze Leadership Program, Silver Leadership Program, Gold Leadership Program and Platinum Leadership Program.

Students must complete all the above programs in order to receive the Leadership Institute certification. In addition, the center offers L.E.A.D., a seven-week leadership certification program.

The goals of the leadership program are to develop in each student participant greater: self-knowledge and to facilitate positive social change at the institution or in the community. That is, undertake actions that will help the institution and community to function more effectively and humanely.

If a student wants to join this program, current Kean University students can apply on Cougar Link by going to the Leadership Institute page and clicking “Forms.” The application will be listed underneath that page. Incoming freshman students can apply by clicking here.