BURLINGTON, VT -Champlain College will hold its annual Sophomore Symposium as part of the  Life Experience & Action Dimension, (LEAD) program, The unique to Champlain program helps students gain knowledge in community building, lifelong career management and financial sophistication.

This year's Sophomore Symposium, "Going the Extra Mile"  on Sunday, Oct. 2, features keynote speaker Eddie Slowikowski, (at left) a professional speaker, athlete and entrepreneur. His accomplishments include founding and directing the LifeRide Leadership Camp; being a five-time All-American and a member of the Loyola University Hall of Fame; and a Gold Medal winner on the USA Track Team.

According to Jen Sweeney, director of LEAD, the practical and meaningful life skills the program teaches enables students to better adapt to changing environments, make good decisions in difficult situations and pursue short- and long-term goals successfully.

 Undergraduates at Champlain are required to complete a series of LEAD programs every year, including  the Sophomore Symposium, a conference-like program featuring a professional keynote speaker and breakout sessions on lifelong career management topics. The afternoon workshops are designed to help  students strategically market themselves. These workshops are facilitated by members of the Champlain faculty and professionals from the community.

Sunday will begin with a leadership breakfast for a selected group of student leaders who will get to talk with Slowikowski about their passions and future goals. In the afternoon, the entire sophomore class will gather in Argosy Gymnasium for Slowikowski's presentation. In telling his life story, Slowikowski, hopes to  inspire students to think critically about their lifelong career goals. Sweeney said he plans to  stress the importance of discovering what one loves to do, creating a career based on this passion, and have the will to do whatever it takes to make it all happen.

Following the keynote, students will break into smaller groups and attend a variety of workshops in the following categories.

·         Workplace Capacities involves expanding skills such as digital media, conflict resolution, self-motivation and ownership in order to be a well-rounded candidate for hire.

·         Determining Direction helps boost students' self-confidence; learning that failure is inevitable and can be a good thing, that you can do something useful today that can make an impact as soon as tomorrow, exploring personal strengths, letting go of the weight of insecurities, and the social change model on how to make an individual, group, or social difference.

·         The Future Workplace focuses on technology, customer relations, surviving as a freelancer, branding you, and working effectively with people of diverse cultures and generations.

·         Speaking from Experience features a continued conversation with Slowikowski, an alumni panel, a resume workshop, and life coaching informational session.

·         Major specific workshops address graphic design and fine art students, education and psychology students, ITS students, and CORE.

For more information, please visit the LEAD Sophomore Symposium Page at http://www.champlain.edu/LEAD-Program/Sophomore-Symposium.html or keynote speaker, Eddie Slowikowski's website http://www.eddiespeak.com/