Four Mount Markham athletes recently attended Cooperstown Central School’s 10th Annual Student-Athlete Leadership Conference. The student-athletes participated in professional development seminars to discover how leadership in athletics affects their daily lives, their school, and their community.
The Cooperstown Central School Leadership Training for Athletes Program welcomed approximately 400 student-athletes and athletic directors representing more than 60 school districts around Central New York. The day-long conference, entitled “Respect: It Goes Both Ways,” was held at Cooperstown’s Clark Sports Center and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
Cooperstown CSD Leadership Training for Athletes Program and Section III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee members partnered with the Clark Sports Center and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum to host the 10th annual Leadership Conference. “The leadership conference exists to foster a positive atmosphere and serve as a platform for student-athletes to recognize how leadership application in athletics affects their daily lives. In turn, that creates a ripple effect to be applied through the student-athlete's life and shared with their teams/teammates, their schools, and their community,” said Monica Wolfe, LTA Advisor, Section III SAAC Advisory & Conference Planner.
The program, sponsored by Central New York businesses, featured several workshops as well as speakers, including keynote speaker Aaron Hart, vice president of program engagement, Varsity Brands, who presented: “YOU ARE POWERFUL. Now, go and use your power for good,” as well as Chris Herren, former NBA player with the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics, ESPN “30 for 30 Speaker,” and founder of the Herren Project.
Athletic directors and teachers from the participating schools were also able to take part in professional development seminars at the Hall of Fame, experiencing the Museum’s award-winning curriculum. Students and educators left the conference with a better understanding of what it takes to be a leader and legend in the world of athletics.