WPSONC LEADS Conference

The Leadership, Ethics, and Diversity in STEM (LEADS) Conference. Larry Smith ’62 and Charlie Bonner ’73 headed this effort for our ‘crowning event’. They had the help of others on our Board of Directors and amazing volunteers from our Society membership.

This was a reboot of the program we had planned for 2020, just before COVID caused us to cancel. This one ended up being even better!

LEADS is a day-long conference that introduces participants to the values of Leadership, Ethics and Diversity combined with a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) component in pursuit of the furtherance of their educational and career goals. The program is designed to assist students from underrepresented communities in recognizing the value of pursuing STEM throughout school while also engendering the concepts of Leadership, Ethics and Diversity in all of their interactions. The Conference was held at the Citrus Heights Community Center.

The middle school and high school students who attended the workshop participated in practical exercises, demonstrations, and competitions designed to enhance their understanding of ethical leadership in a STEM-dependent environment. 20 Cadets and 10 Staff and Faculty from West Point were there to run the workshops, including the dynamic duo of Pat Walker Locke ‘80 and Mack Brooks from West Point’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunity (ODEIO).

Sac County Sheriff Jim Cooper, and UC Davis Chancellor Dr Gary May were the Guest Speakers. Close to 200 high school and middle school students from Sacramento-area school districts attended. Fox 40 News covered the event.

We also had some OUTSTANDING sponsors, including SAFE Credit Union, Raley’s, Kahn, Soares & Conway, LLP, US Bancorp, AD Fiduciary, Green Acres Nursery & Supply, SMUD, and Merrill Lynch.

We plan to do this again next year. Contact Charlie Bonner ‘73 (garlandcb@gmail.com, 707 592 4530), next year’s lead, to get involved, volunteer, contribute, or become a sponsor.