UHV to host leadership conference for area students
The University of Houston-Victoria will welcome students from area high schools, Victoria College and all UH System universities at an annual conference that will focus on leadership, confidence and self-improvement strategies.
The eighth annual ROAR Leadership Conference will be from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 6 in UHV University North, 3007 N. Ben Wilson St. The event also will be streamed through Microsoft Teams, so students who are unable to attend in person can participate online.
The event is free, but students are asked to register by Nov. 3. Those who register and attend will receive a conference T-shirt and UHV swag, and in-person attendees will receive breakfast and lunch.
“The ROAR Leadership Conference is an exciting, encouraging event that piques students’ interest every year,” said Hilary Kofron, UHV Student Life director. “Some students return annually, and they always learn something new. I am looking forward to seeing how this year’s event will impact students and inspire them for the future.”
This year’s keynote speaker will be Iliana Melendez, associate dean of students at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Melendez has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from St. Edward’s University and a Master of Education in counseling and guidance with a specialization in student affairs from Texas State University.
In addition to Melendez’s presentation, students will attend breakout sessions led by UHV faculty and staff that will cover elements of leadership and personal responsibility. Breakout sessions from previous years have examined topics that include communication and listening, networking skills, involvement, personal confidence and UHV’s ROAR Certified Leader program.
For Dominic Flores, a UHV senior political science major, the conference is always a positive experience. He has attended the previous three conferences, and he’s looking forward to this year’s event, as well.
One of the lessons he remembers from previous years came from a keynote speaker who compared people’s work ethics to diamonds. Individuals who put in the work and push themselves to improve and develop skills make themselves to be like big, bright diamonds.
“Every year, I feel like I learn a bit more about myself during the conference,” the San Antonio student said. “Since I’ve attended, I’ve started putting myself out there and worked on showing others that I am big, I am bright, and I am strong. I’m already registered for this year’s conference, and I can’t wait to see what I’ll learn this year.”
Students interested in attending the conference should register online at www.uhv.edu/student-life/leadership-development/conference. For more information about the conference, contact Kofron at 361-485-4409 or kofronh@uhv.edu.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
