Grand Valley State University’s 15th annual Leadership Summit will host college students from across the state to participate in leadership workshops and receive pointers from a motivational speaker.

“Leadership Summit provides students with the opportunity to participate in a case study competition and the opportunity to choose from over 30 workshops to help them grow in their personal leadership style,” said Kate DeGraaf, a graduate assistant involved in the Leadership and Service Initiatives at GVSU.

The 2012 Leadership Summit will host Judson Laipply, creator of “The Evolution of Dance,” which has received almost 189 million views on YouTube. Laipply will present his motivational speech, “Make Choices, Not Excuses.”

“Judson has been known to make you laugh, but (to) also provide inspirational messages about life and leadership development,” DeGraaf said.

According to his website, Laipply has “a vast array of experiences” from numerous jobs which include working on a cruise ship, being a certified aerobics instructor, teaching college courses and being a published poet.

“He’s a crowd pleaser, and this will be a good opportunity to expose him, since he hasn’t been to Grand Valley in awhile,” said Michele Burke, director of Student Life at GVSU.

DeGraaf said more than 200 students attended the leadership event last year from colleges across the state, including Grand Rapids Community College, Alma College, Hope College, Central Michigan University and the University of Michigan.

DeLain Bomer, co-chair of the Omicron Delta Kappa Case Study Competition, said about 300 people total participated last year.

“This year, we are hoping to match or exceed that amount,” Bomer said.

Amanda Harvey, a public and nonprofit administration major, went to a past GVSU Leadership Summit and said her experiences have helped her in current leadership roles.

“I serve as an officer of the Grand Valley Senior Citizens Club, member of the Service and Advocacy Funding Board (and) ambassador for the Community Service Learning Center, among involvement in other service organizations and events,” she said. “The information gained at Leadership Summit is applicable in any of these roles in that it provides one with skills as well as the opportunity to keep improving.”

This summit is supported by the GVSU Circle of the National Leadership Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa, a fraternity that also sponsors a case-study competition at the summit.

“Omicron Delta Kappa works to develop leadership skills on campus and connect students from across all phases of college life,” ODK President Justin Gray said.

The 2012 Leadership Summit will take place Feb. 18 from 12:30 to 8 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center. Registration costs $15 dollars for GVSU students and $25 for non-GVSU students, and must be completed by Feb. 3. GVSU students can apply for a scholarship to attend the Leadership Summit at no cost, but space is limited. To register or apply for a scholarship, visit www.gvsu.edu/leadership.

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