Make Your Mark on Madison

New student club fosters leadership within JMU community

Seniors, remember those golden freshman and sophomore years when semesters, as well as backpacks, were full and career planning was put off until tomorrow? Remember getting lost and how scary it was to meet new people and get involved at JMU? Remember needing a little leadership and counseling back then? Well today, freshman and sophomores have lucked out, and some of them are making their marks … on Madison.

There is a new leadership program at JMU this year, and it has been widely anticipated by students and faculty alike. Led by two student directors, juniors Jake Miller and Jess Misner, Make Your Mark On Madison is a recent addition to clubs and organizations. MYMOM is designed to get freshman and sophomores involved in different extracurricular activities around campus, with the hopes of creating new leaders within the JMU community.

"This is a brand new leadership skills development program run through Student Organization Services," said Miller, an Interdisciplinary Social Sciences major.

Earlier in the semester, 75 freshmen and sophomores were selected to be in MYMOM through an application and interview process. After being chosen, those 75 students were taken by the MYMOM staff on a one-day kickoff retreat.

The members were put into five groups of 15, led by two upperclassmen counselors. Each group was named after a president of JMU: Burruss, Carrier, Duke, Miller or Rose.

"We really just did an introduction of the program — got them excited about what we’re doing," Miller said. "We did some icebreakers with them in their councils, and also some large-group icebreakers so that the whole group feels cohesive."

Miller added that the MYMOM staff members held competitions for the participants in order to build a sense of community within the groups.

MYMOM’s humble beginnings stem from an idea that the Associate Director of Student Organization Services, Kristin Muncy, had.

"I decided to create a leadership program to be sponsored and organized through SOS, since there didn’t seem to be any programs like this available on campus," Muncy said. "Jake Miller and Jess Misner volunteered to help me do this, and one afternoon in my office, MYMOM was born."

Soon afterwards, counselors were chosen and ideas for the program were planned.

"When Jake and Jess asked me if I would be interested in being a counselor for MYMOM, I jumped at the opportunity," junior Kari Deputy said.

"I think MYMOM will be very beneficial to JMU — our program is a springboard for freshmen and sophomores who will be able to go out and be the next student leaders of this campus."

Throughout the semester, students in MYMOM will participate in conferences including a diversity workshop with Steve Grande, director of Orientation and First Year Experience, an organizational values meeting with Mike Citro, director of Fraternity and Sorority Life and a meeting with Muncy called "Encouraging the Heart," which will discuss leadership models and the importance of taking care of one’s self and others. Once completed, members will partake in a final "Make Your Mark On Madison" banquet.

Miller added that students involved in the program will gain awareness of personal values, leadership skills, group collaboration and decision making by participating in these meetings.

So what kind of person is involved in this organization? Aside from being a good student and leader, other factors go into the selection process.

"I think that students who apply for MYMOM will be students who are genuinely interested in getting involved at JMU, and are looking to develop their leadership skills and confidence," said senior Alka Franceschi, a MYMOM counselor "It could be someone who has leadership experience from high school and wants to continue their involvement, or it could also be someone who has never really been involved, and is looking for a way to start."

Through Make Your Mark On Madison, students will learn the importance of being active participants in the JMU community, and will go on to become leaders of the clubs and organizations here at JMU.

"There are so many people who just need a little extra motivation and guidance to realize their potential," said senior Bill Williams, a MYMOM staff counselor. "Showing students that they don’t have to be the generic leader, showing them that leadership comes in many shapes and sizes is an important mission of MYMOM, and one that could truly impact this campus in a positive way."

To learn more about Make Your Mark On Madison and the organization’s activities, visit the clubs and organizations Web site, www.jmu.edu/ucenter/SOS/.

.