Students Attend Inclusive Leadership Conference

NEWBURGH – Four Mount Saint Mary College students from the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) recently represented the Mount at the Inclusive Leadership Conference in Philadelphia, Penn.

The annual conference, hosted by Temple University and Campus Philly, helps collegiate student leaders to discover their own unique leadership abilities and foster this in others.
The Mount attendees, who serve on the HEOP Leadership Council, spanned all four class years and were nominated by their classes to be on the council.

The students were Christian Lorenzo of Staten Island, N.Y., Freshman Class Representative; Giselle Martinez of Newburgh, N.Y., Sophomore Class Representative; Stephanie Ortiz of Elmhurst, N.Y., Junior Class Representative; and Maria Rivera of the Bronx, N.Y., Senior Class Representative.

“The mission of the HEOP Leadership Council at Mount Saint Mary College is to prepare members to become leaders, advocates, and global citizens, by first leading within the HEOP community,” said Harmony Cross, director of HEOP at the Mount.

HEOP provides educational opportunities and support to traditionally underserved students who have strong academic potential, but would otherwise be excluded from higher education due to circumstances of academic and economic disadvantage.

Cross, who accompanied the students to the leadership conference with HEOP Academic Counselor Andres Carpio, noted that the Mount students came back eager to implement what they had learned.

“Our students had a phenomenal time learning how to advocate for themselves and others and are now more motivated and empowered to make a difference on our campus,” said Cross.

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