CSUB to host Conference for Budding Leaders

Event aims to help incoming high school freshmen develop leadership skills

By California State University, Bakersfield

June 21^st, 2022

Incoming high school freshmen will soon have the chance to get a taste of what campus life is like at California State University, Bakersfield.

The university is once again partnering with the Kern High School District (KHSD) to hold a Conference for Budding Leaders. The event will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, during which three male freshmen of color from each high school in the district will participate.

The goals of the conference are to help students improve their leadership and critical thinking skills, get involved in school activities and become more aware and prepared for college.

“We want them to have some leadership skills so they can make the right decisions and surround themselves with the right people as they go through high school and into college,” said EJ Callahan, assistant vice president for student affairs and Student-centered Enterprises, Inc.

The conference will include presentations from CSUB faculty and staff as well as workshops and group activities. The event will focus on several aspects of leadership, including academics, technology, ethics and politics.

At the end of the conference, the students will provide presentations on what they’ve learned during their stay at CSUB. The students’ families are invited to attend the presentations.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our students,” Dr. Brandi Ball, director of equity and inclusion at KHSD, said about the conference. “It’s a great way for them to come together, engage with one another and engage with CSUB and Kern High staff.”

CSUB and KHSD first partnered to hold the conference in 2019 as part of an effort bridge equity gaps for underrepresented students. Dr. Ball said the students who participated that conference had a very positive response to it.

“They really enjoyed the conference,” she said. “When they first went in, some of them were a bit timid because this was their first experience with college. But by the end of this overnight conference when they were doing their presentations, you could see their excitement and their confidence.”

The original plan was to hold the conference again in 2020. However, after COVID-19 hit, the program was put on hold until students would have the opportunity to stay on campus and get the full experience.

“We’re excited to have this conference back on campus,” Callahan said. “Everyone loved it the first time. It feels new again.”

While the programming of this year’s conference is largely the same as it was in 2019, there are some new additions. During the event, Callahan said students will get to hear from a six-member panel consisting of current CSUB students as well as one recent graduate.

“We thought it would be important for the freshmen to hear from CSUB students directly,” he said. “They can talk about their college experiences. I think the students will relate more to that.”

One other big difference is not with the conference itself, but with the number of students participating. Callahan said around 18 KHSD students were part of the 2019 conference. This time around, it’s being expanded to more than 50 students.

Dr. Ball said she believes the conference will become an annual event moving forward and that it will continue to inspire KHSD students to establish themselves as leaders during their time on campus.

“We’re excited for the opportunity to continue this connection and partnership with CSUB,” she said.

Callahan hopes the conference will encourage more high school students to consider going to college and that they will think of CSUB.

“If we can get them thinking about college earlier and what they need to do to be successful, that would be great,” he said. “We want students to be aware of what’s available here at CSUB and to be familiar with the campus so they know that this is a home for them. When it comes time for them to choose a college, I hope they’ll choose us.”