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Two BHC student organizations came together in October to host more than 220 people for a two-day leadership conference at the Quad-Cities Campus.
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honor society and the Student Government Association (SGA) hosted Leading Illinois Together, an annual joint conference for PTK and the Illinois Community College Student Activities Association (ICCSAA).
The event brought together 226 students and advisors from 23 colleges to learn, connect, share ideas, meet new people and leave feeling inspired.
Coming from near and far
Attendees came from all around the state, ranging from neighboring schools Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg and Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon to John A. Logan College from Carterville in southern Illinois, more than 350 miles from Moline.
“It was amazing to see the Hawk’s Nest filled with people from all over Illinois,” said BHC student Maggie Kernan.
Kernan serves as president of the PTK chapter at the Quad-Cities Campus as well as vice president of SGA at the Quad-Cities Campus.
“Being a leader in both PTK and SGA, it was great to meet up with more people who have their life just as jammed pack as I do and see some old friends that I’ve met at events over the years!” Kernan said.
“I loved seeing the excitement and kindness shared between students from multiple colleges who didn’t know each other,” said Nicole Banks, PTK advisor at the Quad-Cities Campus.
“These caring and motivating students make me feel that the future is in good hands,” she said.
Leadership, networking and more
Students chose from more than a dozen educational sessions such as Putting the COMMUNITY in Community College, How Networking and Fellowship Can Catalyze Growth, and Leading From Within: Anybody Can Be a Leader.
“One of the most rewarding moments was watching students discover the ‘why’ behind leadership and realize it’s not about holding a title,” said Jana Koch, coordinator for student engagement at Black Hawk College.
“It’s about finding their purpose, using their voice, building connections, and making a difference,” she said.
