take the lead! to Take Off October 12Ð15

On October 12, thirty-three high school juniors from around the country will arrive on campus to participate in Take the Lead!, an innovative new MHC program designed to build the teens' leadership skills. During their four days here, the young women, who will stay in residence halls with MHC student mentors, will participate in workshops, attend lectures, and develop plans for “action projects.” As part of their application to the program, the students were asked to identify issues of concern to them, and their topics—ranging from suicide prevention, racism at school, and police brutality to homelessness and AIDS awareness—form the basis of the projects. MHC will award $500 prizes to three completed action projects.

Take the Lead! workshops—encompassing everything from identity, talking across difference, time management, conflict resolution, and negotiation—will be led by MHC administrators, and three alumnae will participate in the program. Among the presenters are Tamara Burk, director of speaking programs; Rochelle Calhoun, associate dean of the College; Dina Friedman, workshop coordinator for the Speaking, Arguing and Writing Program; Laurie Priest, director of athletics and chair of physical education and athletics; Beverly Daniel Tatum, dean of the College; and Patricia VandenBerg, executive director of communications and strategic initiatives, who spearheaded the program. Addressing the teens and mentors will be Emmy Award-winning news anchor Alexandra Gromko '91; author and teacher Lydia Okutoro '98; and AIDS researcher and champion in-line skater Karin Travers '86. The alumnae, who will remain on campus all weekend, will also meet with Take the Lead! students.

In addition, thirty-three MHC student mentors, who received training from the Weissman Center for Leadership, will play a key role in the program. Each student and her MHC student-mentor will work one-on-one. The pair will stay in touch via email for the duration of the action project, which may last as long as six months to a year. “I want to do anything that I can to help young women realize their potential,” says Katherine Axt '01, one of the mentors. “I found out about the program last year while I was studying in France, and I immediately called MHC to find out how I could be involved. I have already called the student I will be working with, and she is incredibly impressive.”

The College received more than 650 nominations and 300 applicants from around the country for Take the Lead!. Community leaders, teachers, and guidance counselors nominated high school sophomores, who then submitted applications. During May, a College committee selected a diverse group of smart, idealistic, action-oriented teens who seek to make a positive difference in the world. Participants were chosen on the basis of their potential for leadership, as demonstrated by their academic, cocurricular, and community involvement, as well as for their insight and motivation.