St. Laurence Program Expands Its Presence


December 27, 2006  
Southwest News-Herald - Oak Lawn, Burbank, Bridgeview
By DERMOT CONNOLLY

The leadership program at St. Laurence High School has grown considerably since its inception five years ago, and with the opening Dec. 14 of the Leadership Center on campus, it now has a place to call its own.

Local political leaders such as Cong. Daniel Lipinski (D-3rd), state Sen. Louis Viverito (D-11th) and Burbank Mayor Harry Klein came out for the official unveiling of the center.

It is housed in a wing of the Burbank school that until recently was the monastery where the brothers who taught at the school lived.

"It's funny how these things work out," said Mark Scott, vice president in charge of leadership at St. Laurence.

He explained that although the two-story residence once housed dozens of Christian Brothers, only seven or eight had called it home in recent years.

"They bought a two-flat about a mile from the school, and when they came to us in October and asked if we could use the space here, we jumped at the chance," said Scott.

"We didn't have our own space, and now we have it essentially a few hundred feet down the hall. All it needed was a little redesigning," said Scott, giving a tour of the facility earlier this week.

The new center has five meeting rooms with space to accommodate groups of six to 100, for everything from large gatherings to smaller "break-out" discussion sessions.

The center also includes a leadership library with a variety of resource materials, and several guest rooms for overnight conference participants or speakers.

The library is not fully stocked yet, but already offers  a wide variety selection of books and other media relating to leadership and the development of leadership skills. Donations to the library would be welcome, Scott said.

He said the leadership program he helped develop in 2001 is based on two principles - the first being that there is no such thing as a "born leader."

"A lot of students tell me that they are not leaders. But it is just a set of skills, and once you learn them, anyone can be a leader," said Scott.

The other principle is that just being in a leadership position does not make someone a leader.

"Everybody can be a leader. Just because you are in a leadership position, doesn't mean that you are the only leader on the team," said Scott.

Currently about 700 boys attend St. Laurence, and when asked how many are involved in the program, Scott said, "I guess you could say they all are."

He said that 100 students have earned the title of Leader/Scholars, but leadership principles are taught in all freshman theology classes and a leadership course is offered as an elective to sophomores, juniors and  seniors.

Leadership is stressed throughout the school, from the signs reminding  students as they leave, to the wall of autographed pictures that world leaders have sent to the students.

He said the students who participate in the program focus on team-building exercises and other skills they can use to lead everything from a club to a company.

"So far, it is going strong," said Scott.

St. Laurence has even formed a partnership with Stevenson High School in north suburban Lincolnshire to create a Leadership Academy, and the new Leadership Center will serve as its south campus.

He said that beginning in 2007, the academy will offer 10 leadership workshops each year, five at each school.

Scott noted that St. Laurence will serve students leaders coming from Hammond, Ind., to the western suburbs, while the north campus at Lincolnshire will serve those  from as far north as Wisconsin.

He said the workshops will primarily teach leadership skills and strategies.

"In the business world today everyone talks about working a team, and we teach the skills needed to do that," said Scott.

He noted that while he envisions charging  workshop participants  $10 or $20 to cover meals and supplies, that  would not be enough to cover the cost of bringing  top speakers in. But if students are charged any more, most could not afford to come.

Therefore, Scott said  he would welcome the help of a private company or  other benefactors offered to underwrite some of the costs.

"We see it as an interesting concept a lot of people can support. We have a partnership of two schools, one public and one private, coming together," he said.

"(Outside help) would enable big-name speakers to come in. Otherwise, it would make it too expensive," he said.

Another unique aspect of the program is the help the school is getting from the Leadership Development Center at Bradley University in Peoria.

"This is the first time they have formed a partnership with a high school," said Scott.

He said that after classes resume in January, the Bradley officials will conducting intensive leadership workshops for    St. Laurence students and some girls from nearby Queen of Peace as well.

"We didn't make it mandatory but we think the students will get a lot out of it. They will be pretty intensive sessions," he said.

"The development of The Leadership Academy and our continuing relationship with The Leadership Development Center of Bradley University strengthens our program and will truly benefit our own students and in the near future will also help other student leaders," said St. Laurence President Tom Ondrla at the ribbon-cutting.