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NSLS Promotes Leadership, Camaraderie Students at Rio Salado College are primarily online, and many don’t know that there are clubs to join that offer opportunities to interact with other students while also developing important life skills.

One such club is the National Society of Leadership and Success. Rio Salado’s chapter formed last year, and already students are touting the advantages of joining.

“The best part is belonging to a group of people who have similar career goals as I do,” said business student Julie Weiss. “The society also teaches life skills, professional skills, and the importance of having a support group to encourage you along your path.”

The society promotes helping people discover and achieve their goals through networking events and live speaker presentations that are streamed at chapter locations nationwide.

Last year’s speaker lineup included rapper Common, CNBC host Jim Cramer, and CEO Carly Fiorina.

“I enjoyed having access to professional people giving lectures on what they have learned that made them successful in their chosen career path,” Weiss said. “There is a profound motivation that can be found by listening to their stories of both success and failure.”

John Bastian, Coordinator of Student Life and Leadership at Rio Salado and co-advisor of the NSLS student chapter, said students benefit from being part of the group on four different levels.

“The first benefit is connecting students with the college and with other students,” Bastian said. “The second is the development of leadership skills. The third is having students reflect on their interests and goals, and finally, formulating the steps to reach their goals.”

Weiss, who plans to transfer to Northern Arizona University after earning her associate degree, found learning to work in a group setting especially rewarding.

“The chapter’s success networking teams show the importance of accountability, the advantages of brainstorming, and the helpfulness of support to obtain personal and professional goals,” Weiss said. “You never know who might be able to help you.”

Asking for assistance and support is one of the group’s foundations.

“Especially since we are an online school, many students really value the process of connecting with and supporting other students,” Bastian said. “The success teams are a great vehicle for students to reach their goals because they provide support and accountability as students commit to taking specific steps to make progress on their goals.”

Students who join Rio Salado’s chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success chapter and complete the required membership activities are inducted into the national organization.

Weiss was among 40+ Rio Salado students who were inducted into the society in May.

“Being inducted gives me a great sense of accomplishment and pride because of all the steps it takes to get here,” Weiss said. “It’s also a great thing to include on your resume.”

Other Rio Salado groups students can join include the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the Student Public Policy Forum and the All-Arizona Academic Team.

For more details, contact Rio Salado Student Life and Leadership Coordinator John Bastian at email@example.com or 480-517-8656.

This story can also be found in the Aug. 10 edition of the Tempe Republic. By Mira Radovich, Communications Coordinator at Rio Salado College. Labels: LifeAtRio, Rio Salado College, RioNews, RioStudents, Self-improvement
