The Troy University campus will be the site of the 2010 Lions Club of Alabama High School Leadership Forum June 11-13.

Troy University SGA President William Filmore, said the Forum is not only a great opportunity for students in rising grades 10-12 to build and strengthen leadership skills and develop relationships, it also provides the same opportunities for university students.

Filmore is also the secretary of the Troy University Lions Club and said that members of the campus Lions and students at-large have volunteered with the event.

“This is a unique opportunity for university students to share their experiences with high school students who are preparing themselves for leadership roles,” Filmore said. “The university students will be able to relate to the 80 or more participants in the Lions Club of Alabama High School Leadership Forum because they aren’t many years older.”

Filmore said the Leadership Forum is a good recruiting tool for the university.

“This could be the first campus visit for many of these high school students and we would like to have them think of Troy University first when they consider college options,” Filmore said.

The Forum participants have been recommended for the leadership conference by guidance counselors at their schools or by local Lions Clubs. All have shown to be effective, ethical and compassionate leaders in their schools and in their communities.

The Forum participants will be placed in situations that will give them a chance to practice, test, refine, measure and improve their leadership skills through structured group and individual activities.

“On Saturday afternoon, we will take the Forum participants to Camp Butter and Egg for a time of team building activities,” Filmore said. “The Lions leadership forum used to be Camp Chandler in Wetumpka but participation had declined. High school students seemed more inclined to indoor activities than outside activities. So, the decision was made to bring the Forum more inside but not get rid of the recreational team building activities. Camp Butter and Egg will be fun and challenging.”

Intellectually stimulating seminars will be presented by speakers with wide-ranging experiences in various positions of leadership.

Featured speakers for the Forum will include Pike County Probate Judge Wes Allen and Beth Holloway, the mother of Natalee Holloway, the Alabama teenager who disappeared while on a high school graduation trip to Aruba in 2005, and John Kline, Troy University professor.