Student-Athletes Learn to Lead at RMU-Hosted Conference

Dan Cardone, athletic director for the , had an idea about shining a spotlight on student leaders — the kind of teens who typically aren't sent to the principal's office for a different kind of attention.

“We just thought that sometimes the best kids are just left alone because they’re doing what they’re supposed to do,” Cardone said.

So Cardone spearheaded the UPMC Sports Medicine annual Student Athletic Leadership Academy for teens from across the Pittsburgh region. Students came together at Friday to hone their abilities as leaders in the classroom and on the athletic field. 

The daylong seminar brought together different kids with a variety of skills from Western Pennsylvania who share one common trait—school leaders have identified them as being exceptonal leaders. 

Nearly 180 high school students were chosen by their coaches and athletic directors to attend the academy for displaying overall good character, discipline and leadership skills.

athletic director Win Palmer chose students who stood up for their beliefs. While discipline is nice, he prefers kids with spunk, he said. 

“We enjoy risk-takers," Palmer said. "That’s where leadership develops from."

Sewickley Academy student John O’Malley, who plays basketball for the school, was selected to take part in the event. 

“I think basketball-wise, I lead by example and I show good character but honestly I can always improve,” O’Malley said. “It’s a great feeling to be chosen to be here. They want me to get better as a leader, and they want me to improve.”

The leadership academy was created eight years ago to take great kids like O’Malley and make them even better, organizers said.

While student athletes focus on phyisical condition during practice, Cardone said they may not place enough emphasis on the mental aspects of sports and leadership. 

“Your coaches make you captains, but they might not teach you what being a leader really is,” said Cardone during the conference’s opening ceremony. 

Brendan Boyle, a senior at Woodland Hills High School, said what he learned about stress management and leadership at the event would easily transfer into his life.

Like many of the students attending the conference, Boyle is overbooked. In addition to being co-captain of the rifle team, he is a section leader in band—a year-round activity—playing the flute and mellophone.

“(Stress management) is always going to be important. You can take that even after college,” Boyle said.

Erin Schwoegl, Boyle’s co-captain on the rifle team, said the best thing she learned involved different ways to motivate people. In her seminar, she learned about how touch, words, gifts and time can also be other motivators. She said she now hopes to use these skills to inspire every last person on her team.