PICTURED: Incoming freshmen engaged in this year's Leadership Plunge take to the streets of Wilmington in a community service project. Earlier, they met with the mayor and local business owners and learned about such community services as the Homeless Shelter and Sugartree Ministries. The 25 "Plungers" continue their five-day leadership activities through Saturday.
More than two dozen incoming freshmen at Wilmington College are getting a jump on the upcoming fall semester this week as members of the 20th Summer Leadership Plunge.
The five-day event running through Saturday (July 29) is designed to take those students who were proven high school leaders and lay the foundation for them to become campus leaders at WC.
Plunge facilitator Sigrid Solomon said the select students were among those first-year students invited to apply for the Plunge based on their high school activities, grade point average, and previous leadership positions. Their applications included written essays that complemented their leadership resumes.
"Through Plunge activities, we look at the attributes of a leader, tap into their leadership skills and expose them to some of the leadership opportunities and challenges they will encounter while students at Wilmington College,” said Solomon, vice president/chief student affairs officer and dean of students.
“They come here as top student leaders at their high schools — it’s always interesting to see them learn to adapt to situations with others who also are used to being in leadership positions.”
Solomon added that the Summer Leadership Plunge’s 20-year history illustrates that these students are among the "best, brightest and most well rounded," and they tend to shine once they arrive on campus.
“We’ve seen that many of those who engaged in the Leadership Plunge became resident assistants and members of student government, and have taken on other leadership positions during their time at WC,” she said
Solomon noted that Plunge veterans include more than a dozen of WC’s Robert Lucas Leadership Award winners since 2005, which was the year the initial group of Plunge participants became seniors. The Lucas Award is given annually to the graduating senior deemed as the outstanding student leader over the previous four years.
“They typically have very successful, well-rounded College experiences,” she added.
“One Drop Makes a Ripple” has been the theme since the Plunge’s inception in 2001. “It means that each individual has something to bring to the greater whole,” Solomon said. “Each person can have an impact on campus, especially at a college like WC.”
With about three weeks until they return to campus for New Student Orientation and then the start of classes on Aug. 21, these new students will have already met student peers and staff members, made friends with fellow freshmen and upperclassmen, and know their way around the campus and Wilmington community.
Plunge sessions are being facilitated by six returning student leaders, along with members of the Student Life staff.
“These new students will be ready to hit the ground running and take things by storm,” Solomon added. “Also, history indicates they will positively impact the other new students they’ll meet at New Student Orientation and as the school year progresses."