Two University students can now classify themselves as leaders among leaders.
Recently, members of Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society traveled to the national conference, where two members were elected to national offices.
Michael Tipton, a political science and history junior, was elected as a Student-At-Large Member of the National Board of Directors. Jesse Garner, a music junior, was elected one of 16 Province Directors. Garner also is the Arden O. French Representative for the LSU chapter.
As the Arden O. French representative, Garner is a member of the Arden O. French Leadership Academy Committee, which awards grants to students.
According to Tipton, while at the conference, a delegate was elected from each of the two caucuses. Tipton competed for one of the 20 national offices, against two other individuals, by answering questions and delivering a speech. No campaigning was necessary.
“My responsibility will be to set broader policy for the organization through a series of meetings,” Tipton said. “That mainly means a number of conference calls to take care of information and smaller tasks and a couple of three day meetings to deal with larger issues.”
According to Garner, as Province Director, he will be responsible for communication between the Louisiana and Texas circles and the national office. Garner hopes to improve communication between the circles in his province.
Garner said to be selected for membership to ODK, students must be a junior with a 3.5 GPA. There is a five point system for admissions — academic achievement, organizations, media and communications and music and performing arts.
According to Alexandra Chung, a political science senior and president of LSU’s ODK, the University’s chapter is one of 350 nationwide.
“ODK brings together the most involved leaders on LSU’s campus, providing a forum of exchange for students, faculty, staff and administrators,” Chung said. “ODK hopes to stand as a representative body of student involvement at LSU.”
According to Chung, ODK was founded on the principles of college leadership, by 15 leaders from the student body and faculty at Washington and Lee University.