Wichita State University 'Your Time Is NOW' Student Leadership Conference Wichita State University 'Your Time Is NOW' Student Leadership Conference

Recently, 270 high school students participated in the 13th Annual Student Ambassador Society Leadership Conference at Wichita State. This year's conference theme was "Your Time is NOW," coinciding with the university's marketing campaign "It's Our Time." It featured Scott Tibbitts, a nationally-recognized speaker and space entrepreneur.

Tibbitts, creator of Starsys Research Corporation, shared the company's origin -- delivering an invention made of hardware store parts to NASA and suggesting it be used on spacecraft. With conference attendees he shared "leadership hacks," or important elements to being successful -- fun, family and excellence being at the top of the list. His next venture is deploying the world's first Cloud-based distracted driving solution, in partnership with three U.S. mobile phone providers.

Students enjoyed numerous interactive seminars and breakout sessions, including session topics on character, digitalization and social media in leadership, and effective communication within teams.

The Student Ambassador Society Leadership Conference was originated in 2003 by Christine Schneikart-Luebbe, associate vice president for Student Engagement and dean of students.

This was the largest attendance in conference history, and was chaired by WSU sophomore Tyler Gegen.

SAS is composed of a premiere group of student volunteers who assist the Office of Admissions in recruiting future Shockers. Graduates of this group have gone on to be successful lawyers, educators, doctors, engineers, performers, health care practitioners and business professionals who maintain their dedication and loyalty to Wichita State and the Wichita community.