Hundreds of cadets to share their talents on 3rd Annual Leadership Day

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The S.C. Corps of Cadets uniform, so familiar to the Charleston community, will be spotted all over the Lowcountry on Oct. 23 when The Citadel holds its 3rd annual Leadership Day.  More than 1,200 knobs (freshmen) and sophomores from The Citadel will assist veterans, younger students and neighbors.  Students from The Citadel Graduate College, veteran students, and active duty Navy and Marine students will also participate in Leadership Day activities.

“Citadel cadets volunteer all year long as part of our strategic emphasis on developing principled leaders,” said Col. Conway Saylor, director of Service Learning and Civil Engagement at The Citadel’s Krause Center.  “But on this day, there is a singular focus on service learning and that is powerful. It is a day that builds unity for the corps and helps create a passion for community engagement that is foundational for a lifelong interest in community service.”

Saylor said regular classes are replaced by learning experiences outside the classroom each Leadership Day to emphasize the importance of ethics and service. She explained that commitment to the value of community service will be demonstrated from the top ranks of the college.

“This year we will be honored to have two particularly inspiring leaders join our cadets in the community,” said Saylor. “Medal of Honor recipient, Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry and Citadel President Lt. Gen. John W. Rosa will each take part in some of the more than 25 scheduled volunteer activities.” 

Among the highlights, Petry will inspect the formations of young cadets at Charleston’s Military Magnet Middle and High Schools and Rosa will interact with elementary school students as part of a program called Real Men Read.  

The day begins at 8:15 a.m. on campus. All knobs, guided by trained sophomore team leaders, will board buses to participate in the Charleston County School District’s School Heroism Activity for Remembrance and Engagement (SHARE) program, providing outreach to students at the county’s Innovation Zone Schools. Other sophomores will contribute at one of the two dozen Leadership Day community projects or do training for future service such as American Red Cross disaster work. Citadel juniors will participate in the Junior Ethics Enrichment Experience (JEEE) and seniors will complete their Senior Leadership Integration Seminar (SLIS).  

Leadership Day 2013 comes on the heels of The Citadel earning two national awards for the college’s expansive, year-long service learning efforts in 2012-2013 school year.  Citadel leaders recently accepted The Washington Center 2013 Higher Education Civic Engagement Award and The Citadel was named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll in the spring.  

Leadership Day 2013 Highlights

9a.m. - 12p.m.-Cadets at Ronald   McDonald House; 81 Gadsden Street, Charleston

9a.m.-5p.m. - Cadets at First African   Child Development Center; 1020 King St., Charleston

9a.m.-5p.m. - John’s Island Rural   Mission; 3429 Camp Care Road, John’s Island

9a.m.-4:30p.m. - Cadets at James Simons   Elementary; 2685 Leeds Ave., North Charleston

10a.m.-3p.m.- Cadets at Connie Maxwell   Children’s Home, 3105 Five Chop Rd, Orangeburg, S.C.

9a.m.-5p.m.-Cadets at Salvation Army;   2135 Ashley River Rd., Charleston

8:45-9:15a.m.- Citadel Present Lt. General John Rosa and Citadel cadets read to   children as part of Real Men Read   at Charleston Development Academy, 233 Line Street, Charleston, 29403.

Note: ten cadets will stay all day to   read with every elementary grade level.

9:30-10:30a.m.-Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry and   Citadel cadets visit the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center lobby to greet   veterans, 109 Bee St., Charleston

10:45-11:45a.m.-Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry and Citadel   cadets visit Charleston’s Military Magnet middle and high schools to greet   and review young cadets; 2950 Carner Ave.,    Charleston Heights

12-1p.m.- Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. 1st Class Leroy   Petry and Citadel cadets visit Burns Elementary School to have lunch with   students and discuss heroism; 3750 Dorchester Rd.,  North Charleston

3-4:30p.m. Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry and Citadel   cadets visit patients staying at Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center ,  109 Bee St., Charleston