The Rotaract Club at Chowan University took advantage of canceled classes for Advising Day to hold a Leadership Day for students. The event included breakout sessions on communication, public speaking, interviewing, and the many responsibilities that come with leadership positions.

Grace Arredondo, sophomore English major and president-elect of Rotaract says, “The best leaders are also the humblest servants and our club knows that Chowan is rich in students ready and willing to serve. It is these individuals that communities need most to step up and be leaders, and Rotaract hopes to aid in equipping them for success.”

Workshops were conducted in a presentation format, much like normal class periods. The event also included tracks, which centered topic discussion around a hands-on activity. By using a mix of workshops and tracks, the club engaged multiple learning styles and reached out to attendees in a way more suited to their personal needs.

“As Rotaractors, we hope that by attending these workshops and tracks, students will be inspired to take on leadership roles and handle responsibility with poise and gratitude. We hope to encourage other dutiful and willing campus clubs to join us in this collective endeavor to help all Chowan students graduate ready to be leaders in their jobs and communities,” says Arredondo.

By popular demand, the Rotaract Club teamed up with the Chowan Science Club to sell Krispy Kreme burgers during the 2019 Relay for Life event, held on campus April 12-13. The clubs also hosted a ring toss activity for anyone that wished to work off some of those Krispy Kreme calories. “Donuts are good, burgers are good; both together is double good,” enthuses David Cross, senior Graphic Communications major.

As good—or double good—as the food is, that isn’t what he loves most about Relay for Life. “Watching all the clubs have activities for the kids, seeing the Chowan and the Murfreesboro community come together as one, and most importantly raising money for cancer research, really warms my heart and inspires me to continue to be a part of something important,” says Cross. “It's definitely one major event that I’ll miss when I graduate.”

Sponsored by the Murfreesboro Rotary Club, all members of the Chowan University Rotaract Club are devoted to community service. As part of Rotary International, an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide, they provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Along with a commitment to community and international service, Rotaractors strive to develop leadership and professional skills that will benefit them throughout their career.

Rotaract’s faculty advisor Catherine Vickers, Instructor of English and long-time member of the Murfreesboro Rotary Club couldn’t be more proud. “It’s a privilege to work with these students. I’m honored to have been chosen to continue the good work as their sponsor,” says Vickers.