Alumni Learn to Lead Where They Live During FSAA Conference

A special group of college graduates cleared brush, planted seedlings, shoveled gravel, vacuumed dusty theater seats, and helped drum up support for a newly formed charter school. They put service principles into practice, learning to lead where they live during the Ford Scholar Alumni Association Conference in Eugene, Ore., March 4-6, 2011.

The conference began Friday evening at SweetWaters on the River at the Valley River Inn with a Ninkasi beer-tasting reception.

After a buffet breakfast Saturday, Director of Scholarship Programs Sam Rennick welcomed the 40 alumni, asking them to find their purpose and offering some Fordisms.

“Be successful – not just by getting by and being mediocre – but excel,” Rennick said. Be engaged in your communities, be bold like Kenneth Ford was and, he said, be special. “If you lose your purpose, I hope you can find it.”

FSAA President Andrea Smith presented the State of the FSAA Address, mentioning that the organization is learning as it goes and has plans to become a more valuable asset to our communities.

Keynote speaker Dave Frohnmayer, a member of The Ford Family Foundation Board of Directors and retired president of the University of Oregon, shared examples of various levels of leadership during his “Lead Where You Live” address.

“I wish every Ford Scholar could have been there to see it,” said Michael Meyers, who spearheaded the conference. “I was totally engaged the entire time. His message was passionate, academic, practical, and at times, emotional.” Meyers, from the Ford Scholar Class of 1996, serves as an at-large member of the FSAA Board.

Alumni and their guests spent Saturday afternoon working on various community service projects around the Eugene area.

Dinner was back at the Valley River Inn, followed by a viewing of the newly released movie, “Rango.”

On Sunday morning, FSAA Board Member and Mentoring Committee Co-Chair Chris Schulze, who traveled from Pendleton, Ore., to attend the conference, provided an update of the Mentoring Committee.

Until now, committee members have struggled to match new Ford Scholars with alumni. Realizing that this might not be the best way to assist incoming college students, Scholarship Advisor Shamra Clark at the Scholarship Office has stepped up to help. Now junior and senior Ford Scholars serve as mentors to freshman and sophomore Scholars who attend the same universities. Schulze said seasoned alumni can mentor current students who are looking past graduation toward grad school, careers, raising families, and opportunities for community service. He encouraged alumni to become mentors by visiting www.fordscholaralumni.com/mentoring.

Four outstanding alumni sat on a panel Sunday morning, sharing advice from their own lives about how to lead where one lives.

Following the panel discussion, Charlie Walker, a director emeritus of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, reflected upon defining moments in his life, encouraging alumni to look back on their own.

“Defining moments really create your leadership style,” Walker said.

Personal defining moments have taught him three important leadership principles: What I think is important; simply because a person is silent in a group doesn’t mean that person isn’t thinking and doesn’t have something to share; and having critics goes with leading.

After a handful of alumni shared during open mic time, President Andrea Smith closed by encouraging alumni to aim high, even if they don’t always reach their lofty goals. Quoting Mr. Ford, she concluded with, “You are special. Now go out and be special.”