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http://menofclass.net/2010/01/rush-pi-kappa-phi/https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/2122/guest@my.umbc.edu/1a483e415d225e8f453943ce7d1178d9/api/pixellogorushPi Kappa Phihttps://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/retired-48https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/xsmall.png?1502987649https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/original.JPG?1502987649https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/xxlarge.png?1502987649https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/xlarge.png?1502987649https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/large.png?1502987649https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/medium.png?1502987649https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/small.png?1502987649https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/xsmall.png?1502987649https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/xxsmall.png?1502987649Pi Kappa Phi00falseMon, 18 Jan 2010 19:46:31 -0500Help Push America Win A ONE MILLION DOLLAR Donation!
“And all you fine people (and your friends) have to do is cast a vote”
Pi Kappa Phi’s Push America has some exciting news to kick off 2010! In mid December we were voted as one of one hundred small to medium non-profit organizations across the country to receive a $25,000 grant from JP Morgan Chase. We are extremely grateful since 500,000 organizations were also in the running! We earned this grant through a voting process on the popular social networking site, Facebook, in which JP Morgan Chase will be donating $5 million through the Chase Community Giving Campaign.
We are now in the running for the $1 million grand prize and need our Pi Alphas to help us win it! Our network is very extensive but with a short window of opportunity to share the great news we need your help. The contest is very simple; each of the 100 organizations that have moved on to the second round must solicit votes for their organization. The nonprofit with the most votes after the week of voting wins!
Voting begins on January 15 and concludes January 22 at 12am EST. Follow the below steps to do your part in winning Push America the largest gift in the 32 year history of the organization!
1.) Log on to your Facebook account.
2.) Search for “Chase Community Giving” and become a fan. (If you are already a fan just follow the link)
3.) Vote for Push America! You will have 5 votes in the second round and can only use one for Push America.
4.) MOST IMPORTANT!! After you vote select the option to share with your friends, this will post that you voted for Push America on you wall and entice others to do the same.
5.) Tell you friends to vote for Push America! Text, call, email, chat, write a message, write on their wall, anything to spread the word.
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“And all you fine people (and your friends) have to do is cast a vote” Pi Kappa Phi’s Push America has some exciting news to kick off 2010! In mid December we were voted as one of one hundred...http://menofclass.net/2010/01/help-push-america-win-a-one-million-dollar-donation/https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/2123/guest@my.umbc.edu/a247dfada69b5e2fde1f018314faeb46/api/pixeldonationfacebookpushpush-americaPi Kappa Phihttps://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/retired-48https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/xsmall.png?1502987649https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/original.JPG?1502987649https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/xxlarge.png?1502987649https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/xlarge.png?1502987649https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/large.png?1502987649https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/medium.png?1502987649https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/small.png?1502987649https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/xsmall.png?1502987649https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/xxsmall.png?1502987649Pi Kappa Phi10falseMon, 18 Jan 2010 15:34:41 -0500STRiVE 2010: A Shared Peak Experience
I spent five days (and four nights) last week at STRiVE 2010, UMBC’s student leadership retreat in the mountains outside of Frederick. I’m still feeling the effects of nonstop activity and too little sleep, but mainly I’m thrilled about the experience I had with the 45 student participants and my 10 co-facilitators (some of whom were students, some members of the UMBC staff). Most of us did not know each other when the week began, but the activities, stories and challenges we shared brought us all together in profound ways.
On the first night, the participants reflected on their ‘peak experiences’: those rare moments in their lives when they had felt most fulfilled and complete, and unafraid to reveal their true selves. For many of us, what we created together over the next four days was a shared peak experience. That is a part of what real leadership is about: Helping others to step beyond their everyday roles to tap their deepest passions and talents, and creating environments in which it is possible to transcend everyday constraints.
By design, STRiVE 2010 incorporated features that often factor into people’s peak experiences. The setting was novel: a departure from familiar habits and routines. In the absence of all the cues that tend to lock them into their everyday ways of being, STRiVE participants and coaches were freed to explore and tap hidden dimensions of their personalities and potential. What emerged felt deeply honest and real.
Like many of the participants’ previous peak experiences, STRiVE 2010 involved risk and uncertainty. Participants were challenged repeatedly to share their thoughts, histories and identities with relative strangers and to stretch their limits in public. One of the final STRiVE activities involved sharing honest, critical feedback with individual peers. What emerged was incredibly powerful, educational and fulfilling. I was taken aback by the boldness and generosity of the small group of students with whom I worked most closely: Agnes, Phil, Yulim, Shin-Yee, Mahelet, Craig, Brian, Arielle and Damani. They dared to speak truths to each other, helped each other become better leaders, and took their relationships to a higher plane.
Peak experiences often involve a specific kind of support from others: an affirmation that it is perfectly OK to be exactly who you truly are. STRiVE’s facilitators tried to help participants feel that sense of acceptance and permission to blossom, but would have failed if the participants had not stepped up to help and support each other. Together we created a community in which members felt strong and safe enough to put their best, most loving and hopeful selves forward. Being able to build that kind of community is one of the most elusive but essential skills of any leader who hopes to mobilize others to contribute to the common good.
I'm deeply grateful to have been able to share the STRiVE 2010 experience with my 55 friends, and look forward to helping the participants pursue their visions of change on campus and beyond. As they do, I hope they will find new ways to extend the STRiVE spirit within the UMBC community, so that even more members feel connected, supported and affirmed in revealing and living as their best and truest selves.
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I spent five days (and four nights) last week at STRiVE 2010, UMBC’s student leadership retreat in the mountains outside of Frederick. I’m still feeling the effects of nonstop activity and too...http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2010/01/strive-2010-shared-peak-experience.htmlhttps://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/26/guest@my.umbc.edu/1b952fae9acd8fe82ae2cf1dff4d0837/api/pixelstriveCo-Create UMBChttps://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-createhttps://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363Co-Create UMBC10trueSun, 17 Jan 2010 14:01:00 -0500Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:01:00 -0500PKPEtaPhi: RT @PiKappaPhi: RT @gogoedward I supported...
Full Title: PKPEtaPhi: RT @PiKappaPhi: RT @gogoedward I supported Push America by voting for them to win $1m with #chasegiving. Please fan, vote, and RT! http: ...PKPEtaPhi: RT @PiKappaPhi: RT @gogoedward I supported Push America by voting for them to win $1m with #chasegiving. Please fan, vote, and RT! http: ...
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Full Title: PKPEtaPhi: RT @PiKappaPhi: RT @gogoedward I supported Push America by voting for them to win $1m with #chasegiving. Please fan, vote, and RT! http: ...PKPEtaPhi: RT @PiKappaPhi: RT...http://twitter.com/PKPEtaPhi/statuses/7792122966https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/2407/guest@my.umbc.edu/bc4f26cefd469bbdbbc8ec15b7b78d24/api/pixelPi Kappa Phihttps://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/retired-48https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/xsmall.png?1502987649https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/original.JPG?1502987649https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/xxlarge.png?1502987649https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/xlarge.png?1502987649https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/large.png?1502987649https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/medium.png?1502987649https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/small.png?1502987649https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/xsmall.png?1502987649https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/048/8a09b9e6a6b138365de11987319c4aab/xxsmall.png?1502987649Pi Kappa Phi00falseFri, 15 Jan 2010 11:00:55 -0500Video: UMBC Food Memories
From UMBC Magazine Food Issue, Winter 2010. Video by Jenny O’Grady.
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[Video]
From UMBC Magazine Food Issue, Winter 2010. Video by Jenny O’Grady.https://umbc.edu/stories/video-umbc-food-memories/https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/124936/guest@my.umbc.edu/85fa1099ed7807f50584f0562c22ae25/api/pixelcampus-lifedining-hallfood-memoriesvideoswinter-2010UMBC News & Magazinehttps://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/umbc-news-magazinehttps://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/943/24435aa6207c452e7bc15cc74b42c7bb/xsmall.png?1748556657https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/943/24435aa6207c452e7bc15cc74b42c7bb/original.png?1748556657https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/943/24435aa6207c452e7bc15cc74b42c7bb/xxlarge.png?1748556657https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/943/24435aa6207c452e7bc15cc74b42c7bb/xlarge.png?1748556657https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/943/24435aa6207c452e7bc15cc74b42c7bb/large.png?1748556657https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/943/24435aa6207c452e7bc15cc74b42c7bb/medium.png?1748556657https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/943/24435aa6207c452e7bc15cc74b42c7bb/small.png?1748556657https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/943/24435aa6207c452e7bc15cc74b42c7bb/xsmall.png?1748556657https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/943/24435aa6207c452e7bc15cc74b42c7bb/xxsmall.png?1748556657UMBC News & Magazine00falseWed, 13 Jan 2010 18:40:06 -0500Video: How to Build a Ramen Bridge
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[Video]
From UMBC Magazine Food Issue, Winter 2010. How to Build a Ramen Bridge, featuring Tim Topoleski.
Video by Jenny O’Grady.https://umbc.edu/stories/video-how-to-build-a-ramen-bridge/https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/124937/guest@my.umbc.edu/ae58df7b84dc84f406848de79b2362f8/api/pixeldiscoveryhow-tomechanical-engineeringramentimmie-topoleskivideoswebweb-extraswinter-2010UMBC News & Magazinehttps://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/umbc-news-magazinehttps://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/943/24435aa6207c452e7bc15cc74b42c7bb/xsmall.png?1748556657https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/943/24435aa6207c452e7bc15cc74b42c7bb/original.png?1748556657https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/943/24435aa6207c452e7bc15cc74b42c7bb/xxlarge.png?1748556657https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/943/24435aa6207c452e7bc15cc74b42c7bb/xlarge.png?1748556657https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/943/24435aa6207c452e7bc15cc74b42c7bb/large.png?1748556657https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/943/24435aa6207c452e7bc15cc74b42c7bb/medium.png?1748556657https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/943/24435aa6207c452e7bc15cc74b42c7bb/small.png?1748556657https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/943/24435aa6207c452e7bc15cc74b42c7bb/xsmall.png?1748556657https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/943/24435aa6207c452e7bc15cc74b42c7bb/xxsmall.png?1748556657UMBC News & Magazine00falseWed, 13 Jan 2010 18:38:35 -0500Video: UMBC Food Memories
From UMBC Magazine Food Issue, Winter 2010. Video by Jenny O’Grady.
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From UMBC Magazine Food Issue, Winter 2010. Video by Jenny O’Grady.https://magazine.umbc.edu/video-umbc-food-memories/https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/107639/guest@my.umbc.edu/f82f9acc6db8dfbf72bb034218e8399f/api/pixelcampus-lifedining-hallfood-memoriesvideowinter-2010UMBC Magazinehttps://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/retired-1945https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/images/avatars/group/8/xsmall.png?1786447565https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/images/avatars/group/8/original.png?1786447565https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/images/avatars/group/8/xxlarge.png?1786447565https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/images/avatars/group/8/xlarge.png?1786447565https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/images/avatars/group/8/large.png?1786447565https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/images/avatars/group/8/medium.png?1786447565https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/images/avatars/group/8/small.png?1786447565https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/images/avatars/group/8/xsmall.png?1786447565https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/images/avatars/group/8/xxsmall.png?1786447565UMBC Magazine00falseWed, 13 Jan 2010 13:40:06 -0500Video: How to Build a Ramen Bridge
From UMBC Magazine Food Issue, Winter 2010. How to Build a Ramen Bridge, featuring Tim Topoleski. Video by Jenny O’Grady.
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From UMBC Magazine Food Issue, Winter 2010. How to Build a Ramen Bridge, featuring Tim Topoleski. Video by Jenny O’Grady.https://magazine.umbc.edu/video-how-to-build-a-ramen-bridge/https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/107640/guest@my.umbc.edu/dac1e4720b7dfa05d47fbe515fef2d0b/api/pixeldiscoveryhow-tomechanical-engineeringramentimmie-topoleskivideowebweb-extraswinter-2010UMBC Magazinehttps://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/retired-1945https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/images/avatars/group/8/xsmall.png?1786447565https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/images/avatars/group/8/original.png?1786447565https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/images/avatars/group/8/xxlarge.png?1786447565https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/images/avatars/group/8/xlarge.png?1786447565https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/images/avatars/group/8/large.png?1786447565https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/images/avatars/group/8/medium.png?1786447565https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/images/avatars/group/8/small.png?1786447565https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/images/avatars/group/8/xsmall.png?1786447565https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/images/avatars/group/8/xxsmall.png?1786447565UMBC Magazine00falseWed, 13 Jan 2010 13:38:35 -0500For Alums: Small Plates, Big Tastes – January 21
Although this is a food blog for current students, here’s some information for any alums who may stumble on our site:
If you wouldn’t even know where to begin in the kitchen, join the UMBC Chapter of Young Alumni on January 21st for a cooking class at For the Love of Food located at 20 Clarks Lane, Reisterstown, MD 21136.
The menu selected to be prepared, "Small Plates, Big Tastes," includes Sage Grilled Chicken Souvlakia and Olives, Tortilla de Berenjenas (Eggplant and Tomato Tortilla Sandwich), Caramelized Onion, Wild Mushroom & Goat Cheese Tartlets and Avocado Spring Rolls. For more information or directions to the facility please click here.
CYA Cooking Class For the Love of Food, Reisterstown, MD January 21, 2010 7:00 p.m.
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Although this is a food blog for current students, here’s some information for any alums who may stumble on our site: If you wouldn’t even know where to begin in the kitchen, join the UMBC...http://umbceats.com/2010/01/12/for-alums-small-plates-big-tastes-january-21/https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/80/guest@my.umbc.edu/d91ccf54bc3770cd59aa2ac7ac45994f/api/pixeluncategorizedUMBC Eatshttps://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/retired-10https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/010/f899139df5e1059396431415e770c6dd/xsmall.png?1279120113https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/010/f899139df5e1059396431415e770c6dd/original.jpg?1279120113https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/010/f899139df5e1059396431415e770c6dd/xxlarge.png?1279120113https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/010/f899139df5e1059396431415e770c6dd/xlarge.png?1279120113https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/010/f899139df5e1059396431415e770c6dd/large.png?1279120113https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/010/f899139df5e1059396431415e770c6dd/medium.png?1279120113https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/010/f899139df5e1059396431415e770c6dd/small.png?1279120113https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/010/f899139df5e1059396431415e770c6dd/xsmall.png?1279120113https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/010/f899139df5e1059396431415e770c6dd/xxsmall.png?1279120113UMBC Eats10trueTue, 12 Jan 2010 11:58:38 -0500Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:58:38 -0500Digital Story Projects from ELCA 504 Cross-cultural Communication
During the Fall 2009 semester, students in ELC-A 504/054 (taught by Polina Vinogradova) produced digital ethnographies using main principles and techniques of digital storytelling. The students worked in groups and explored cultural communities of their choice. Focusing on either a particular aspect of culture or a theme within a cultural community the students developed and conducted interviews, analyzed the information they collected, and produced digital stories based on the interview answers and their understanding of the subject. The goal of this project was not only to introduce the students to a multimodal form of self-expression, but also for the students to explore different perceptions of culture outside of class and experience cross-cultural communication while working on digital stories with their classmates.
In ELC-B 504/054 (taught by Tsisana Palmer), the students produced individual digital stories about important aspects and events in their lives while exploring different meanings of culture and cross-cultural communication.
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During the Fall 2009 semester, students in ELC-A 504/054 (taught by Polina Vinogradova) produced digital ethnographies using main principles and techniques of digital storytelling. The students...http://www.umbc.edu/blogs/digitalstories/2010/01/digital_story_prejects_from_el_1.htmlhttps://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/202/guest@my.umbc.edu/c05b808c0d9c6c335f2fe828e81fe1a7/api/pixelprojectsDigital Stories Working Grouphttps://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/storieshttps://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/014/eecca5b6365d9607ee5a9d336962c534/xsmall.png?1279120366https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/014/eecca5b6365d9607ee5a9d336962c534/original.png?1279120366https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/014/eecca5b6365d9607ee5a9d336962c534/xxlarge.png?1279120366https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/014/eecca5b6365d9607ee5a9d336962c534/xlarge.png?1279120366https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/014/eecca5b6365d9607ee5a9d336962c534/large.png?1279120366https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/014/eecca5b6365d9607ee5a9d336962c534/medium.png?1279120366https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/014/eecca5b6365d9607ee5a9d336962c534/small.png?1279120366https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/014/eecca5b6365d9607ee5a9d336962c534/xsmall.png?1279120366https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/014/eecca5b6365d9607ee5a9d336962c534/xxsmall.png?1279120366Digital Stories @ UMBC10trueMon, 11 Jan 2010 10:35:51 -0500Mon, 11 Jan 2010 10:35:51 -0500
I spent five days (and four nights) last week at STRiVE 2010, UMBC’s student leadership retreat in the mountains outside of Frederick. I’m still feeling the effects of nonstop activity and too little sleep, but mainly I’m thrilled about the experience I had with the 45 student participants and my 10 co-facilitators (some of whom were students, some members of the UMBC staff). Most of us did not know each other when the week began, but the activities, stories and challenges we shared brought us all together in profound ways.
On the first night, the participants reflected on their ‘peak experiences’: those rare moments in their lives when they had felt most fulfilled and complete, and unafraid to reveal their true selves. For many of us, what we created together over the next four days was a shared peak experience. That is a part of what real leadership is about: Helping others to step beyond their everyday roles to tap their deepest passions and talents, and creating environments in which it is possible to transcend everyday constraints. 
By design, STRiVE 2010 incorporated features that often factor into people’s peak experiences. The setting was novel: a departure from familiar habits and routines. In the absence of all the cues that tend to lock them into their everyday ways of being, STRiVE participants and coaches were freed to explore and tap hidden dimensions of their personalities and potential. What emerged felt deeply honest and real.
