The Summit Award will be presented annually to a Gold level graduate who embodies the principles of the MLP who authentically lives the Mansfield University Creed: Character, Scholarship, Culture and Service.

Damolla Hayward, who completed her Gold level of leadership in December, is the first recipient. She was unable to attend the reception. “Damolla is an exceptionally driven and talented young woman,” Julia Overton-Healy, MLP director and director of the MU Career Development Center, said of Hayward “Her personal integrity and her willingness to serve others really distinguishes her. It’s an honor to know her.”

The MLP, now in its second year, is designed to give students three tiers of leadership learning: Bronze, which focuses on personal leadership; Silver, which concentrates on leadership within teams and groups; and Gold, which develops change leadership.

As students complete a level, they move to the next. Each level requires students to complete six interactive workshops and a corresponding essay for each workshop. Workshops are facilitated by volunteers, including administration, staff, faculty and students.

Martha Harkleroad completed the Gold level this spring. Her service project focused on raising awareness about hunger in Tioga County.

Students who completed the Silver level are: Brianna Alderfer, Billie Sue Atkinson, Jeremy Bean, Tessa Bieber, Christyna Cain, Ashley Coombs, Sarah Pinkowski, Kevin Risser, Carrie Rogers, Amanda Shade, Jason Smith, Cara Stroup, Stacy Wolfe and Kimberly Zechman.

Students who completed the Bronze level are: Marcia Awkward, Jilliane Bolt, Heather Brelo, Jodi Breon, Rachelle Brisson, Jessica Brown, Jason Clapper, Clayton Dessa, Lori, Dotterer, Dorothee Elsner, Erica Fischer, Antoine Johnson, Justin Jones, Hiwot Ketema, Brittany Lashinski, Ryan Machir, Erica Martin, Jolene McCandless, Adam McCawley, Bohpa Ouk, Katelyn Plaska, Robert Raup, Colleen Ricci, Jenni Robbins, Anthony Root, David Sanford, Amanda Shade, Leah Sollinger, Blake Smith, John-Mark Stoltz, Sharon Thomas, Rebecca Turner, Jessica Wagner and Anthony Yeager.

“To see what these students are capable of, and for them to discover what they are capable of, is amazing,” Overton-Healy said. “We really are developing tomorrow’s leaders here, and we wouldn’t be able to do it without our advisory committee and the workshop leaders who give of their time, expertise and guidance. They are all examples of leadership.”

The MLP is managed through the Career Development Center. The program is free for the students, thanks to support from the Mansfield University Foundation, which allocated seed money for the program.