OSU Hargis Leadership Institute

We greatly appreciate all the support President Shrum gives to our leadership scholars!
PLC loves President Shrum!! 🧡

The Hargis Leadership Institute recently led a process for Oklahoma State University to be recognized as a premier institution for leadership development. We are proud to announce that OSU was one of 25 universities nationwide, and the only land-grant university, to receive the inaugural Leadership for Public Purpose designation from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching! OSU is committed to being the preeminent land-grant university for leadership development, and once again, we are demonstrating that America's brightest leaders Lead Orange!

Oklahoma State University earns inaugural Carnegie Elective Classification for Leadership for Public Purpose - Oklahoma State University Oklahoma State University is one of just 25 institutions to earn the inaugural Carnegie Elective Classification for Leadership for Public Purpose.

Our next LeadOrange winner received the consciousness of self in leadership award. Congratulations to Tammy Mix, a Faculty Fellow, who mindfully innovates, supports and develops student leaders. She has led a team to create OSU's new General Education Trails which will start in the fall. Her innovations and passions support the University's commitment to "dream as big as the sky." Congratulations!

The Hargis Leadership Institute is excited to welcome on board MILI JHA who will be joining our team, this July, as the Coordinator of Leadership Programs! In this position, Mili will help us ensure every OSU student has access to leadership education outside the classroom.

Mili received their bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in Political Science with honors and has served the past two years in the Honors College as an academic advisor. They are passionate about connecting students’ leadership with community issues and learning through service. When not advocating or supporting the community they can be found tending to their garden, cooking for friends, or spending time with their husband, two dogs, and cat.

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Congratulation on finishing the semester! We hope everyone has a restful, safe and happy summer. We cannot wait to see everyone back in August!

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The Hargis Leadership Institute is THRILLED to welcome Lanie Varner as the new Coordinator of Scholarship Programs! Lanie will oversee the recruitment and selection process as well as serve as the team lead for PLC student engagement opportunities.
Lanie is a new OSU alumna, graduating from the Spears School of Business as a Top 5 and Outstanding Senior. During her time in undergrad, Lanie was heavily involved in leadership programs within HLI, serving in programs such as PLC, Summit and Lead4Success. We look forward to seeing all the great work she will do, so please help us in congratulating and celebrating Lanie!

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Our next winner, receiving the Collaboration in Leadership Award, is Joshua Stephens. Joshua worked diligently to create a College Student Council Summit in which the student leadership from each academic college’s student council met to set goals, develop leaders, and collaborate. Joshua is recognized as a leader who brings other together and invites new people in. Congratulations!

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Last month, we held the President’s Celebration of Leadership. This event strives to honor the often unseen but invaluable work of exceptional leaders across our campus. These individuals embody the spirit of excellence, leading with integrity, compassion and commitment to service. To all of the leaders on our campus, thank you for your dedication and passion, we are grateful that you

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Carson Sager, a Class X McKnight scholar, has been a member of the President’s honor roll for the last four years, a two-time Academic All-Big 12 selection for the Oklahoma State Cowboy Basketball and now named the OSU College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology Orange Gown recipient for Spring 2024! We are cheering you on, Carson! Congratulations.

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Sager selected as CEAT’s Orange Gown recipient - Oklahoma State University Athletics Oklahoma State men's basketball senior Carson Sager will be suiting up in a different type of orange uniform next weekend inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Congratulations to our students who presented their posters for their capstone class, part of the Certificate of Ethical Leadership! If you are interested in receiving a Certificate in Ethical Leadership or learning more about the program, email us at [email protected].

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Congratulations to our students who presented their posters for their capstone class, part of the Certificate of Ethical Leadership! If you are interested in receiving a Certificate in Ethical Leadership or learning more about the program, email us at [email protected]

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‼️ All juniors ‼️ come visit us at Junior Day to learn more about our programs and how you can get involved once you join the !

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As we look back on our past year of outstanding leadership around campus, we are excited to congratulate each of our winners from our recent President’s Celebration of Leadership. First, we are happy to congratulate Sophie Hawkins, the recipient of the Common Purpose in Leadership Award. Sophie saw a need in her community and took action utilizing her team’s strengths while listening and amplifying their voices. As the president of the Society of Women Engineers, she leads with resilience and humility.
Congratulations!

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To conclude our senior spotlights, we will be recognizing Lily Chavez, our Undergraduate Student Director of Leadership Programs. Lily has been a notable member of the Hargis Leadership Institute in every way. She is an extremely hard worker that has embedded herself in the OSU campus and beyond. Lily has met some of her best friends here at Oklahoma State and she wouldn’t change her time here for the world. Unable to pick just one memory, Lily says that every football game, dinner with friends, and silly nights out were all well spent.

Lily Chavez is the founder of Wishes for Water, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises money for clean and sustainable sources of water for schools in the rural Hurungwe Region of Zimbabwe, completely run by OSU students. Through this experience, she has had the opportunity to lead over 60 students and volunteers, host galas and events, and even travel to Zimbabwe twice. So far, Wishes for Water has raised over $50,000 and drilled and implemented two water sources with a fenced-in garden and irrigation system at schools.

Continuing her on campus involvement, Lily has been a PLC Scholarship Recipient and Facilitator, an OSU Nominee for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, and a Lead4Sucess Facilitator. She has also been a participant in First-Year Representative Council, National Student Leadership Forum, Oklahoma Student Leadership Forum, and Engaged Citizen Task Force.

With graduate school offers from NYU, Trinity College Dublin, and Maastricht University, Lily will find herself at Trinity College Dublin working towards her Masters of Science in Development Practice! Before beginning graduate school, Lily plans on traveling in August to watch the Olympics. Lily Chavez will be receiving her undergraduate degree early, after only three years, with a Certificate in Ethical Leadership. We wish Lily the absolute best on her exciting future adventures, and we know she will be successful everywhere she goes!

Marcia Sun is currently a PhD candidate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies in Higher Education, and she serves as a graduate research associate in the Office of Educator Support. Marcia has ben heavily involved in the Graduate and Professional Students Government Association (GPSGA) for over three years. She says that GPSGA “has been integral to my experience at OSU.”

Currently, Marcia is serving her second term as the President of GPSGA. She believes GPSGA plays a vital role on campus, as the primary voice for graduate and professional students within the Oklahoma State University system. She said, “Our mission is to enrich the graduate experience by serving as a unified representative body, offering student feedback on policies that impact areas such as health, finances, and professional development.”

Marcia said one experience that motivated her to be a leader on campus was the work she did in her position as the coordinator for the leadership program at OSU during COVID. She said the goal of their leadership development program was to “facilitate a critical dialogue related to leadership initiative during the height of the pandemic.” In reference to the impact of this program she said, “The authentic experiences that the participants could obtain from the program permeated through international boundaries and capitalized fully on the rich possibilities of global engagement.”

Marcia also said she has always drawn inspiration from the life of her grandmother. Her grandmother has been an elementary school teacher in China for over 30 years now. Marcia said, “Her unwavering commitment to education and her passion for instilling a love for learning in her students have deeply influenced my own values and aspirations. Growing up, she instilled in me the importance of education in shaping individuals' lives and driving societal progress. Her dedication and enthusiasm for teaching left a lasting impression on me, igniting my own passion for education and learning.”

To her, a true leader must understand transformational leadership and be willing to practice this proactive leadership approach. Marcia said that through the pursuit of her degree, she has realized that passionate leaders are advocates for transformative engagement and enhance the determination and motivation of the entire community.

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The outstanding Lanie Varner is Hargis Leadership Institue’s President’s leadership Council Undergraduate Coordinator. Lanie has made the most of her time here at OSU. Her involvement goes deep into the Oklahoma State campus and the Hargis Leadership Institute. You may have seen Lanie named as Outstanding Senior along with Senior of Significance. In addition, she has been a PLC facilitator, E-Club Officer, Entrepreneurship Scholar, Lead4Success facilitator, and a top 5 Entrepreneurship Senior.

Lanie has also had several opportunities to study abroad to Zimbabwe with PLC and Portugal with CAGLE. In fact, one of her favorite memories during her time at OSU was getting to study abroad with PLC to Zimbabwe as it was her first time out of the country and an unforgettable experience. To add to the excitement, she turned 21 on the study abroad trip!

Following the quickly approaching graduation in May, Lanie will be getting married in June! Her time as the PLC Undergraduate Coordinator and an OSU student will come to a conclusion, but she won’t be going far. Lanie will start her exciting new chapter right here in Stillwater! Lanie Varner will leave long-lasting impact on Hargis Leadership Institute and PLC as her leadership and guidance has influenced many. We wish Lanie the absolute best in her post-collegiate career. While we are sad to see her soon leave this chapter, we are always going to be cheering her on in her chapters to follow!

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The spotlight is now to be shined on our wonderful McKnight Scholars Student Director, Ellie Fly. Shining her own light, Ellie says that "OSU is a place where friends turn into family." Not having just one favorite memory, Ellie chooses to cherish every memory she has made with her OSU family.

Ellie has been greatly involved on the OSU campus. She has served in various capacities with the Kappa Alpha Theta fraternity, as well as the Greek Wide Campus Ministry. You may also know Ellie from her involvement with the McKnight Scholars Leadership Program where she serves as a mentor to Class XII, and/or from the recent time she was a member of the 2023 Homecoming Royalty Court. Ellie's OSU involvement continues as the Cowboy Journal Editor, a participant in Varsity R***e and the Euphoria fashion show, and being a speaker for the OSU Foundation at the Board of Governors Association meeting.

Following her graduation from OSU, Ellie will return to Texas where she will work at her local church until September. The month of September will be an exciting one as Ellie will be getting married!

Ellie has overflowing gratitude for the experiences she has had at Oklahoma State University. She would like to acknowledge the grace of God and the love and support of her friends and family for making these past four years the best of her life.

We are so grateful for all the work Ellie has done here at Hargis Leadership Institute. The Hargis Leadership Insitute will miss the never-ending smiles and laughter that join Ellie every time she steps into the office. We wish Ellie the absolute best following her graduation and know she will continue to shine her light wherever she goes.

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You should totality look into our leadership programs!

Solar Eclipse 2024☀️🌕

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Hargis Leadership Institute is excited to have three professional positions open! We are searching for individuals who are excited to engage in student leadership development. We look forward to inviting new team members to join our collaborative team.

Coordinator of Leadership Programs: https://okstate.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/8/home/requisition/17393?c=okstate
Coordinator of Scholarship Programs: https://okstate.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/8/home/requisition/17394?c=okstate
Coordinator of McKnight Scholarship Program:https://okstate.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/8/home/requisition/17508?c=okstate

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We're thrilled to shine a spotlight on Bailie Burrhus, our dedicated Outreach and Engagement Intern who has truly made the most of her college experience. Throughout her time at OSU, she has been deeply involved in various aspects of campus life, leaving a lasting impact wherever she goes.

Bailie has been a pillar of support and leadership as part of LeadHERship Spears, where she not only showcased her own skills but also empowered others to grow and succeed. Her roles as a Spears Peer Leader and Community Mentor allowed her to mentor and guide her peers.

Looking ahead, Bailie would like to move to Florida with her fiancée and three dogs after graduation. Her journey serves as a reminder to embrace the highs and lows of college life. While the lows may seem daunting, they often pave the way for new and exciting opportunities. Bailie encourages her peers to approach every moment with an open heart and mind, knowing that each experience, whether challenging or rewarding, contributes to personal growth and development.

Bailie’s commitment to service and outreach is truly commendable, reflecting her genuine passion for making a difference in the lives of those around her. Her positive attitude, leadership, and commitment to excellence are truly inspiring, and we have no doubt that she will continue to thrive in all her future endeavors.

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The Hargis Leadership Institute has a third full-time position opening! We are currently hiring for the Coordinator of McKnight Scholarship Programs. This opportunity includes recruitment and selection of scholarship cohorts, creating meaningful leadership development activities, and coordinating scholarship retreats and study abroad programs. We are looking forward to working with a life-giving leader who is excited about empowering students!

Apply here: https://okstate.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/8/home/requisition/17508?c=okstate

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Adonis Gardner is a chemical engineering major here at Oklahoma State University. In his time on campus, Adonis has been a Parker Hall LLP, helped with CEAT Summer Bridge, and served as a CEAT mentor.

Adonis was also a member of the President’s Leadership Council (PLC). It was during his time in PLC that he learned the true importance of leadership. He said that in PLC they learned how to apply effective and ethical leadership practices in their everyday lives. He found, that once he started using these practices, people began looking to him to lead their organizations and clubs.

Though he was able to refine his leadership skills here on campus, he was inspired to be a good person long before his collegiate career began. Adonis says his mother has been his biggest inspiration and that she instilled a strong set of values in him that have set him apart from his peers. He says his upbringing grounded him and instilled in him determination and resilience. Adonis credits his mother entirely for making him who he is today.

It is his belief that good leaders must be determined and passionate about bettering the lives of others and ensuring their voices are heard. In the time he has left on campus, Adonis wants to continue helping incoming students acclimate to college life. He said he finds value in helping set these incoming students up for success.

When asked about a time he felt passionate about leadership, Adonis referenced a time in high school when he chose to prioritize the needs of his team members over winning. He said that when their competition was ultimately canceled due to COVID-19, his team members made a point to thank him for making their time together fun and productive. He wrote, “It is these responses that keep me passionate about leadership and striving to always get better at it; it’s the unknown impact that you have in others’ lives.”

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OSU's prestigious President's Leadership Council and the Hargis Leadership Insititute are excited to announce the expansion of PLC to include incoming transfer students for the first time in history! Incoming transfer students admitted to OSU for the fall of 2024 can APPLY NOW!

To APPLY go to your OSU application portal under the "opportunities" tab or go to our website (link in bio).

For MORE INFORMATION, copy and paste the link below, or click on the link in our bio or on our story.

https://leadershipinstitute.okstate.edu/plc.html

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Kimberly Burns, our President’s Leadership Council Graduate Assistant, is known for being an unstoppable and powerful force and leader. Her path to campus involvement is long and wide, and with that she has carried her outgoing personality. Kimberly’s favorite memory during her time at Oklahoma State University has to be the time she studied abroad with McKnight Scholars to Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and France. You may know Kimberly Burns through her extensive involvement on the OSU campus. Some of that involvement includes being the Vice President of Social Involvement for MBA Association, a GLAS member, placing 3rd nationally at the BYU MBA Case Competition, and being recognized as an Outstanding Senior and Senior of Significance. Graduating in May, Kimberly will find herself on her way to Kansas to work for Textron Aviation in the Sales Development Program. During her time in the Sales Development Program, she will complete a year of training learning how to conduct new aircraft sales, along with plane parts and services. Hargis Leadership Institute has had the pleasure and joy of working alongside such an impactful person with a radiant smile and laugh. We wish her all the best in her career and life following graduation.

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Our very last Leadership Development Series session for the ‘23-‘24 academic year is almost here! Make sure to register on Campus Link to join us in Student Union 416 on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at 11:30am. You can also attend virtually on Zoom by selecting the virtual option when registering for Leadership Development Series! If you’ve attended 3 of the 5 sessions, you only need one more session to get your 4 out of 6 to qualify for a graduation medallion. Don’t miss out on this awesome opportunity! We hope to see you there as we wrap up the semester!! More information can be found at the link in our bio!

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We are hiring for the Coordinator of Leadership Programs! This position will work on co-curricular programs at Hargis Leadership Institute. This includes programs like our Leadership Development Series, Lead4Success, and more campus partnered programs. Are you ready to grow life-giving leaders?

Apply here: https://okstate.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/8/home/requisition/17393?c=okstate

Azariah Lang is a CEAT K-12 Intern. She is also currently the presidents of OK State Stand United, a multicultural organization on campus. Azariah also serves as senator for the student government association, is on the Big 12 Committee of the Black Student Association Board, and a member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.

Azariah was first inspired to take on leadership positions on campus when she noticed there were groups of students on campus whose voices were not being heard. She mentioned a specific instance where she observed a student being racially profiled on campus and nothing was done about it. She said after seeing this injustice take place, she was inspired to be a voice for all students on campus who might not feel as though they have one otherwise.

Azariah said one of the most inspirational people in her life is her grandfather. She said he and others have inspired her to help other students make their voices heard, and to advocate for students who cannot stand up for themselves. Azariah says that to be a good leader people have to be able to actively listen, see a situation from all perspectives, and do the right thing even when no one else does.

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Another congratulations to Molly Wilson, one of our McKnight Scholars Leadership Program students! Great job on all of your hard work!

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We're excited to announce our top 5 seniors from the Department of Economics! We are so proud of each of you!

Help us congratulate these top seniors and all their accomplishments!

Congratulations to our President's Leadership Council undergraduate coordinator, Lanie Varner! We are so proud!

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We're excited to announce our top 5 seniors from the School of Entrepreneurship at Oklahoma State University! We are so proud of each of you!

Help us congratulate these top seniors and all their accomplishments!

1. Congratulations to the those accepted to McKnight Scholars🏆
2. Nominate leaders (friends, faculty, staff, alumni, etc.) to the LeadOrange campaign📝
3. Get ready to get your L4S cord ‘23-‘24 cohorts🎓

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