Two students from Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) attended the 37th annual Missouri Governor’s Student Leadership Forum on Faith and Values Feb. 25-27 in Jefferson City.
Heather Day and Faith Watson, both of West Plains, were among 60 collegiate students nominated to attend this year’s event.
About the forum
The forum challenges students’ character development by encouraging them to reflect on their own decision-making skills, values and belief systems, according to information from forum organizers.
Students learn how to reconcile relationships, stand for truth, and love others as themselves. The forum’s guiding principle is teaching students to embrace altruism rather than egotism, organizers said.
Students heard from several speakers who lead by example, including:
- Becca Chapman, director of women’s philanthropy at Wheeler Mission, the largest rescue mission and homeless shelter in Indiana
- Taisir Yanis, owner of Yanis Coffee Shop in Jefferson City
- Scott Crosley, an U.S. Army Airborne Ranger, chaplain, lieutenant colonel, and chief executive officer of PIVOT, a national anti-sex trafficking agency
- William Bumphus, director of Wheeler Mission’s Shelter for Men
Students ended the weekend with a morning at the capitol, touring the House Lounge and hearing from Bob Priddy, retired news director of Missourinet; and visiting the House Floor, led by Missouri State Rep. Travis Fitzwater.
They also visited the governor’s office and concluded with a meet-and-greet and message from Missouri Governor Mike Parson.
‘A life-changing experience’
Both Day and Watson said the lessons they learned during the weekend event were “life-changing.”
“It was amazing, groundbreaking. It opened up a whole new perspective of thinking, not only in a leadership way but also in loving people,” Day said.
“The weekend gave us skills that will help us with our future and our interactions with other people,” Watson added. “It taught me to be more open and vulnerable to the people around me.”
The Missouri Governor’s Student Leadership Forum on Faith and Values began in 1986 under the leadership of former Missouri Governor and 79th U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft.
For more information about the annual event, visit the forum website, call 573-691-7572 or email Jaclyn@MOGSLF.org.