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Gain valuable leadership experience

GLA student leaders Claire Adkins and Mia Long

Take a closer look at Ivy’s Gerdin Leaders Academy

The Gerdin Leaders Academy (GLA) is a one-year, self-paced program for students looking to gain leadership experience, build their resumes, and make beneficial connections with peers, faculty, staff, and more. Throughout the program, students will complete 11 activities within five different competency areas:

  • Ethics
  • Leadership
  • Service to community
  • Professional development
  • Diversity and global perspective

The experience helps students develop skills in various areas while working at their own pace.

For Mia Long, a successful student leader from Omaha, Nebraska who studies marketing, this pace can be much faster than expected. “I finished the program in less than a semester, which was a major accomplishment,” she said. “I was able to post my achievement on LinkedIn, and it was a great resume builder. A key takeaway from the program was how applicable it is to the business world and any career path I choose. A lot of what I learned I have used every semester thus far!”

In addition to the knowledge and skills students gain, the program offers a variety of scholarship opportunities. One of these opportunities is the MBA-GLA service project, which allows students to work with real nonprofits. In addition to making connections with these nonprofits and gaining real-world experience, students who excel in this project can earn a scholarship.

“I would highly recommend GLA for all business students as it helps you get involved in the business college and learn valuable skills that all employers are looking for.”

— Jonathan Nevenhoven

Another scholarship opportunity comes with the GLA ethics essay, a critical project the students embark on at the end of the program. This essay is vital to completing the program, for a good reason. At the end of each semester, the student with the best paper receives a $1,200 scholarship.

Students who complete the program will also receive digital credentials, certifying the completion. It’s also a great resume booster showing skills that employers are seeking.

Jonathan Nevenhoven“With every module I completed, I received a badge and then was able to add it to my LinkedIn profile,” said student leader studying accounting, Jonathan Nevenhoven, from Waukee, Iowa. The program also helped him get more involved at Ivy. He stated, “My biggest takeaway from the program was how much I was able to get more involved in Gerdin during my freshman year. Joining student organizations, meeting with my career coordinator, and attending business events helped me to learn more about the opportunities available in the business college and helped me to meet more people.”

Completion of this program also provides students with the opportunity to become student leaders. All students selected to become student leaders earn scholarship money, and they are given a chance to aid peers throughout the program, gain more experience, and further develop their leadership skills.

Claire Adkins, a student leader studying finance from Shenandoah, Iowa, said, “I love how it has challenged me to grow in these areas while also pushing me toward student success.” These student leaders also put a lot of effort into making the program as beneficial as possible for those involved. “Our team is working hard to create valuable experiences for Ivy students that will give them a strong foundation today to keep growing in the future,” she said.

The GLA program is a unique experience that has proved beneficial for all students involved. Nevenhoven said, “I would highly recommend GLA for all business students as it helps you get involved in the business college and learn valuable skills that all employers are looking for.”

To learn more about the program or to get involved, visit the Gerdin Leaders Academy web page.

August 3, 2023

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