ST. CROIX – Over 50 students attended the University of the Virgin Islands’ 2014 Campus Leadership Development Conference at the Renaissance St. Croix Carambola Beach Resort and Spa.

The two-day conference, titled “Ready. Set. Lead,” began on Friday, Nov. 15 at 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and continued at 9:15 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 16.

According to Hedda Finch-Simpson, Conference Coordinator and Student Activities Supervisor at the University, the conference as designed to provide the latest strategies, tools, and technologies to assist students as they continue their college education and prepare for the future.

The goal of the conference was to empower and motivate UVI students to enhance their leadership skills by implementing practical or actual experiences to compliment coursework facilitated in the classroom.

The conference held a total of 11 concurrent sessions, a civic service—beach cleanup—and a reception. The keynote addresses were given by Hoan Do, a Student Success Life Coach and Author, and Jennifer Nugent-Hill, Trustee to the UVI Board and Executive Chief Officer of the Economic Development Authority.

Hoan Do provided students with six ideals to foster good leadership, and to overcome self-doubt as well as a G.P.S system to not only set goals, but to achieve them.

“Make sure you lead through your actions not through your words,” Do said, “Because what I’ve noticed is that people will watch you and follow you based on what you do not what you say, because what you do is a visible reflection of your character.”

Nugent-Hill’s address was titled “Goal Setting for future leadership development,” and told students that the best leaders have the heart of a lion, the skin of a rhino and the soul of an angel.

Other conference presenters included: Dr. Chenzira Davis Kahina, Dr. George Franklin, Nereida Washington, Linda Smith, Melvin Mathurin, Mona Barnes, Sharryanne Garcia, Junior Garcia, Zandra Peterson, and Reginald Perry

The conference concluded with thanks, an award ceremony for each participant and hopes for an even larger turnout next year.