Category: Honors Abilities

LeaderShape® – Making Leaders for a More Just, Caring, and Thriving World!

Published January 30, 2026

At the end of the Fall 2025 semester, a group of Pavlis Honors College students was selected to attend Michigan Tech’s LeaderShape® Institute, hosted at the Ford Center in Alberta, MI. This institute is a 4-day-long retreat to help grow their leadership skills.

History of the Institute:

Participants during a group activity called Videre

The LeaderShape® Institute was founded in 1986 to engage participants in a transformative experience that will inspire them to create a more just, caring, and thriving world. The Institute allows participants to have time and space to have discussions with deeper meaning. These conversations, paired with guided instruction and challenges, allow participants to showcase their personal values in a community context.

The Institute is a 4-day experience that allows participants and facilitators to expand their leadership abilities using community examples. Students who attend the program expand their sense of community, learn their key values and connect their actions to their values, identify their leadership style, and learn how to properly work with the other leadership styles. What makes the retreat unique is the self-assessment, intense small group discussions, and team-building activities that curate an experience for participants to highlight their values in community-based topics.

“By leading with passion, integrity, and a healthy disregard for the impossible, participants explore who they are and the impact that they want to have on communities working towards a more caring, just, and equitable society”
LeaderShape®

The LeaderShape® Institute has continued to evolve and has been training leaders from our campus since 1996. To date, over 1,300 Huskies have participated in the program. The Institute takes place between the fall and spring semesters at the Ford Center in Alberta, MI.

Daily Activities & Staff:

Every day at the Institute, a new theme is chosen to build on the previous day and reflect the key leadership elements of vision, partnerships, integrity, and results. The days’ themes are:

Day One: Living and Leading with Integrity
Day Two: Challenging What Is, Looking to What Could Be
Day Three: The Value of One, The Power of All
Day Four: Living in Possibility

The Institute utilizes highly interactive program methods rather than classroom lectures. In this environment, everyone is a teacher, and everyone is a learner. Many of the activities engage the large group known as the Learning Community. Smaller groups, called Family Clusters, are also formed as a supportive, safe environment for personal reflection and the development of new skills, attitudes, and abilities.

“Everyone is a teacher and everyone is a learner.”

The LeaderShape® Institute Fall 2025 staff

Meet the staff for the event in Fall 2025 and what they had to say about the event!

Program Coordinator

Cole Pierucki, Senior Coordinator for Student Leadership & Involvement

“In my role as LeaderShape® Program Coordinator at Michigan Tech, I had the honor of coordinating the 30th session of the Institute on our campus. When I stepped into my full-time position in June, I wasn’t deeply familiar with LeaderShape® beyond knowing that it had a long history at our institution, with over 1,300 Huskies graduating from the program across the previous 29 sessions. Once I experienced the program firsthand, it became immediately clear why it has endured for three decades and why 11 different campus departments and student organizations chose to sponsor a student’s participation fee. By observing the participant activities and building connections with those involved, I learned a great deal about myself and met some truly amazing people. I am incredibly grateful to the 37 wonderful students who participated, to LeaderShape® for partnering with us for 30 amazing years, to the dedicated Faculty Team who volunteered their time, and to the incredible Ford Center staff whose support made this experience possible.”

On-site Coordinators

Josie Towery, MTU Student, Psychology Major and Mathematical Sciences Minor

Matthew Echols, MTU Student, Psychology Major and Computer Science Minor

Cluster Facilitators

Destaney Sauls, Assistant Teaching Professor –

“LeaderShape® was a reminder that leadership isn’t about holding a title – it’s about acting with intention, values, and courage. Through the experience, I realized that the most meaningful way I lead is by connecting with people and building relationships.”

Jennifer Nish, Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Composition, Academy of Teaching Excellence –

“I had a great experience at LeaderShape®. It was wonderful to connect with the student and faculty participants outside of our usual settings on campus. The program is very well designed and an excellent opportunity for students to reflect on their values and cultivate leadership skills that will help them in many aspects of life.”

Micah Vacco, Senior Coordinator for Student Leadership & Involvement –

“LeaderShape® is an incredible opportunity for any student. As a staff member, I went in incredibly excited to see how the experience would shape my students. What I didn’t expect was to learn just as much—if not more—about myself. The program pushed me out of my comfort zone, allowed me to build meaningful relationships with students and peers I wouldn’t normally interact with, and created space for my own personal growth.”

Robert Handler, Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering; Affiliated Assistant Professor, CEGE and Social Sciences; and Faculty Advisor, Green Campus Enterprise –

“Attending the LeaderShape® Institute was a great opportunity to step back from the busyness of everyday life and take some time to focus on the what, why, and how of your life and work.”

Pavlis Student Reflections on LeaderShape®

From building new friendships to gaining clarity around values and goals, Pavlis Honors students consistently point to LeaderShape® as a formative experience. The testimonials below reflect how the institute creates space for self-reflection, collaboration, and leadership development that extends well beyond the program itself. In their own words:

“LeaderShape® was an experience. Going into it, I was expecting it to be yet another boring leadership retreat. But it wasn’t. It was a fun experience. I got to meet a lot of awesome new people; everyone who attended the event was actually trying to be a part of the program and learn from the program. I am glad I did it, and would always recommend it to others to do it too. #BOLDWORLD”
Wilson Inyang

“The LeaderShape® Institute provided a wonderful opportunity to develop my understanding of my motivations and career goals. The LeaderShape® programming provided guidance and a space supporting my development of essential skills for leadership and teamwork. I was also able to meet or strengthen relationships with a variety of great people, including the Facilitators and fellow participants. These interactions left me inspired and looking forward to the future.”
Niko Johnson

“LeaderShape® is like summer camp but in the winter with an incredible group of like-minded students! These four days were packed with engaging ice-breaker activities, team building, introspection and personality assessments, and so much more! My time at the LeaderShape® institute was invaluable and I would seriously recommend it to anyone who even remotely considers (or aspires to be) themselves a leader. My hope going into this institute was that I would leave with new connections – a network to work with so to say – to support me in all my future endeavors. And sure enough, one email later, I have a new undergraduate research position in a professor’s lab due to a connection made with a faculty member at LeaderShape®! I also walked away with many new friendships and leadership training that has already proven to be helpful in navigating conversations with my family, being a more effective leader in the clubs/orgs I lead, and overall just being a more confident and humble person simultaneously!”
Erin Holzinger

“LeaderShape® was an experience where the people got to bond incredibly well, along with learning different opinions, helping us be leaders. I can tell it exposes people to multiple ways of thinking and approaches to solutions for problems. The way you go about things is as important as the end result. It is important to always keep your team in mind. This was one of the few things we learned, along with enjoying the food there.”
Canaan Pohl

“LeaderShape® was a super cool retreat. Not only did I learn a lot about myself and how that translates into leadership, but I was able to make some new friends. The activities that they had us do were very enlightening to how people operate in groups, who takes charge, and how to channel that energy into accomplishing something productive. Overall, the event was worth my time, and I would recommend attending to anyone who wants to learn how to lead in an ever-changing world.”
Owen Brink

Pavlis Honors students at LeaderShape®, learning, connecting, and leading together

Community, Leadership, and Adventure: Sydney Wieseler’s Pavlis Journey

Published December 17, 2025

By Connor Nunn

Sydney posed in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City during her Study Abroad.

Meet Sydney Wieseler, a Pavlis Honors College student whose leadership, service, and global experiences have shaped a meaningful path at Michigan Tech. Sydney is majoring in Mathematics with an International Spanish minor and comes to Michigan Tech from Battle Creek, Michigan, and plans to graduate in 2026.

Sydney is currently a Senior Resident Assistant (SRA), a member of the Undergraduate Student Government (USG), and an active member of St. Albert the Great. She has explored many other opportunities, ranging from the Swing club to serving on the Douglas Houghton Hall Council (DHHC). She has participated in two study abroad programs, one to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula for spring break, and the second to Barcelona, Spain, where she spent six weeks. As an SRA, she had the honor of representing East Hall’s residents at the building’s ribbon-cutting, which included speaking at the event and helping cut the ribbon alongside university officials and building planners!

Wieseler preparing to speak at the grand opening of East Hall.

Sydney’s journey with the Pavlis Honors College began with several conversations that encouraged her to get involved. One of the first came from an RA in her first-year residence hall, who introduced her to Pavlis halfway through the fall semester. A few weeks later, she heard about the program again from Dr. Marika Seigel, shortly after Dr. Seigel became Dean of the Pavlis Honors College. With these conversations in mind, Sydney decided to give Pavlis a try.

Since joining Pavlis, Sydney has completed HON 2150 and HON 3150, along with her Academic Enhancement, Immersion Experience, and Leadership/Mentorship Experience. She is currently working on her Project Experience by drawing on her role as the SRA for Hillside and the fourth floor of East Hall. Next semester, she will be enrolled in HON4150, capping off her Pavlis Honors College courses and experiences.

Making the Most of Every Opportunity

“Pavlis is a great opportunity! It helps you meet a lot of other amazing leaders across campus and hear about a lot of amazing opportunities!”
Sydney Wieseler, Pavlis Honors Student

Sydney posed in Park Güell for a photo during one of her study abroad adventures.

Throughout her time in Pavlis, Sydney has learned strategies for maintaining a well-rounded life and connecting her academic work with her passion for community engagement. Volunteering has long been important to her. “I did 150 volunteer hours within a year with my local food bank, and I recently learned that I can volunteer at the food bank here for students at Michigan Tech,” Sydney shared.

She has also taken advantage of many valuable university resources she learned about through Pavlis and her RA role. These include the Learning Centers, Student Mental Health and Well-Being, and more.

Sydney posed in front of the Elizabeth Tower in the UK with her friend, Charlotte.

Sydney’s Pavlis journey reflects her commitment to leadership, service, and growth. She continues to build meaningful connections across campus and beyond, embodying the values at the heart of the Pavlis Honors College, a compelling reminder of how the Pavlis Honors College helps students turn their passions into meaningful impact.

Learning Through Failure in the Honors Seminar

Published December 4, 2025

By Jack Schall

In our society, we often view failure as something negative, but that mindset needs to change. Progress requires risk, and when we take risks, failure is inevitable. It is okay to fail. Each setback offers a chance to learn and grow. Got rejected from a school you hoped to attend? Reflect on what you might strengthen in your next application. Didn’t make the team? Let that motivate you to train harder and try again next year. Received a disappointing grade on a major assignment? Use it as an opportunity to visit office hours and better understand where you struggled.

Here are two assignments from Michigan Tech’s Honors Seminar, HON 3150, in which students reflect on past failures and reframe them in a positive light.

Failure Resume

First, we have Connor Nunn’s “Failure Resume”, in which individual students create a resume of recent notable failures.

Connor Nunn

Second Year Chemical Engineer, Second Year Questioning My Life Choices.

EDUCATION FAILS

Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI BS, Chemical Engineering (WHY?!?!), Expected Spring 2028, More like Spring 2030

GPA: That of A Genius Burnout Diploma (?)

Bay City Western High School, Auburn, Michigan GPA: Too Scared to Look

Honors On accident, AP Failure, Senior Yearbook Staff Member, June 2024

SKILLS OF FAILURE

MATLAB (I just cry looking at code)

Chem (I freeze on exams)

Floor Time (I am a pro)

EXPERIENCE IN WORK

Marketing Assistant (PHC, Enterprise Program), Houghton, MI, 2025 – Present

Major time commitment that is hard to juggle
Forgetful, squirrelly brain making forgetting to inform employer of completed tasks prevalent
Dyslexic nature making an employer’s job a living hell

Rozsa Center, Houghton, MI

Ad-libbing my way through a job
Somehow not being chased out with a broom (somehow a success?)
Using my charisma to be close with bosses as to be “fired” 5 times on October 4th, 2025 between 3 and 5pm

McDonald’s, Auburn, MI, 2022-Present

Attempting to wrangle my fellow crew members to get sh!t done since 2022
Mistakes made in order taking: 2,539?
Pounds of food/product waste caused by me: 1.4×103
Times yelled at by customers: I lost count after 10,000

LEADERSHIP & INVOLVEMENT

President, MTU Building Government, East Hall, East Hall Association, 2025 – Present

No clue how I got here
I forget what I am talking about halfway through talking about it

Tech Crew Lead, Bay City Western High School’s yet again dissolved theater program

Too focused on production goals to properly train my successors
Was an inefficient link between crew, actors, and directors, causing the director to get fired

TIME SINKS

The Yearn for the Outdoors • Rock Hoarding • Digital & Film Photography and Development

Failure Story

Next, we have Shuang Gao’s “Failure Story”, where she walks us through one of her failures and the insights that followed. Here is her story.

Last November through December, I worked on a new product concept board for my Marketing class. The project was about developing a creative idea and presenting it as if it were a real business concept. After completing it, I decided to take a big leap and enter the Husky Pitch Competition. A campus-wide event where students present entrepreneurial ideas to a panel of judges.

At first, I didn’t realize how competitive the event would be. When I arrived, I quickly noticed that almost everyone else was a graduate student or a senior with business experience. I was the only first-year student there. That realization alone made me nervous, but it also motivated me to do my best. I spent hours rehearsing my five-minute pitch, revising my slides, and trying to anticipate questions the judges might ask. I practiced in front of friends, in front of the mirror, and even recorded myself to catch any mistakes.

When the day of the competition finally came, I was excited but also terrified. As I stepped onto the stage, the bright lights hit me, and my heart started racing. My hands were slightly shaking as I held the microphone. I began my pitch confidently, but halfway through, the nerves took over. My voice trembled a little, and I stumbled over a few words. I could feel my face getting warm, and I knew I wasn’t performing as smoothly as I had practiced.

Even though I tried to recover, I knew I had lost some momentum. When the presentations ended and the winners were announced, my name wasn’t called. For a moment, I felt disappointed. I had worked so hard, and I was a little sad to see others walk away with awards and recognition. But as the event continued, I realized something important. Listening to the other presenters opened my eyes to how much I could learn. Their projects were detailed, their delivery confident, and their experience showed. Instead of comparing myself negatively, I decided to treat it as inspiration. A few participants even came up to me afterward and complimented my idea. They said it was creative and showed promise. That encouragement meant a lot to me.

Although I didn’t win, I walked away with a certificate of participation, valuable experience, and a new perspective. I learned that failure isn’t always a loss, it can also be a feedback. It showed me where I could improve, but it also proved that I was brave enough to take a risk. Looking back, I’m genuinely glad I entered the competition. That moment of failure became a small but meaningful step toward confidence and growth.

Taking risks is essential, and failure is an unavoidable part of taking those risks. This assignment gave students the chance to reflect on their own experiences and rethink what failure means to them. By looking closely at moments that felt discouraging, they were able to recognize what those experiences taught them and how they helped them grow. Students enjoyed this process, and it shows that anyone can benefit from taking time to reflect on past failures and reframe them as meaningful steps forward.

Tiny Tech Stories: A Glimpse Into Life at Tech

Published October 17, 2025

By Kylie Overly

In the HON 3150 class, students were challenged to create tiny stories — short, 100-word narratives inspired by their experiences as Michigan Tech students. Each story included a title and an image, and students were free to choose any topic that resonated with them.

The Story Behind the Assignment

When asked about the inspiration behind the assignment, Dr. Laura Fiss, faculty fellow in the Pavlis Honors College and associate teaching professor in Humanities, shared the story of how it came to be:

“I’ve loved reading the New York Times’ Modern Love column and its spin-off Tiny Love Stories for years, but it didn’t occur to me that I could use them in the classroom until a conference I attended in 2021,” said Dr. Fiss. “Nancy Sommers, whose work on revision I had taught, led a workshop that used the framework to help shape ‘tiny teaching stories.’ We wrote 100-word stories about teaching, shared them with peers for feedback, and then revised them.”

That experience sparked an idea.

“I had already been teaching HON 3150 for a while, and I liked the possibilities,” she explained. “In spring 2021, I was still teaching online, so I adapted the workshop into an in-class activity. It worked really well, so I introduced it as a take-home assignment the following fall.”

Over time, the assignment evolved.

“I think it was in fall 2021 when I had the idea of having students respond to each other in class,” Dr. Fiss said. “We created ‘story chains’—an adaptation of the ‘silent discussion’ activity I’d heard about in other classes, but more formal. I like that this assignment helps students get over some of the hump of writing about themselves. One hundred words is manageable, and it’s very pleasant for me to have students complaining that they need to cut rather than saying they don’t know how they’ll fill out 1,000 or 1,500 words!”

For the in-class portion of the activity, students paired up to share their original Tiny Tech Stories. Each student then created a response story to their partner’s, following the same 100-word limit and including a title. After sharing their responses, students switched partners and repeated the process — creating a web of interconnected stories and perspectives.

“I always enjoy reading the Tiny Tech Stories,” said Dr. Fiss. “It’s a way of connecting that’s a little different from a verbal conversation—and it tends to lead to interesting ones afterward!”

This creative, reflective assignment not only encourages concise storytelling but also builds connection and empathy among students. Through their tiny stories, Michigan Tech honor students share small but meaningful glimpses into life at Tech — one hundred words at a time.

Honors Students Share Their Tiny Tech Stories

One Step at A Time

by Madeline McRoberts

The journey started 3600 miles from home. The climb itself spanned 3560 ft. Backpack, snacks, water bladder? Check. The trail started off gradually, surrounded by cascading mountains dotted with fluffy white sheep. Steps grew larger as our group traversed the mountainside. Vibrant, green landscapes turned white as we were swallowed by the fog. Light breathing became heavy panting as the summit grew nearer. Large steps were replaced by climbing as the terrain difficulty increased. Signs led the way and boosted morale until the last step. At last, I straightened my back and took a deep breath. This was it: Snowdon.

Meeting the “Blue Blur”

by Aris Arvanetes

Nerds, Cosplay, Vendors, Videogames, and best of all celebrity voices! That’s one checkmark for the bucket list! My heart was pounding, both legs swaying my body back and forth, eyes couldn’t focus, and time felt too slow! The nervousness suddenly kicked in. What would he be like? Would he think I was cool to talk to? Would I be able to afford the prices for signing stuff or pictures? What should I say? And there I was standing face to face with the Blue Blur himself. Chill, positive, energetic, and way past cool! Everything just fell into the right place.

The Wary Traveler

by Shuang Gao

Week 0 at Michigan Tech, I joined one of my roommates Joe for lunch and sat with his friends. They shared a story about a late-night “traveler” who wandered into their room uninvited. At first, the silhouette by the bed seemed like a dream—until the traveler spilled bodily fluid (urine) across the carpet. Two hours of scrubbing later, Joe’s friend knew him much better than they wanted. Listening, I realized college isn’t just classes and roommates, it’s also the unpredictable encounters that become instant cautionary tales. The moral? Never leave your door unlocked at night. Some lessons arrive messier than others.

Oh Dearest Charlotte

by Connor Nunn

Though I have only been away from you for 2 months, the moment I pulled into the driveway by surprise coming home for thanksgiving break, I felt the typical weight of the old memories reminding me of why I push at MTU. Then I get hit with the weight of your little body running up to me, jumping up on to me and you wrapping your legs and arms around me in a much needed bear hug. Though it hurts to leave you, I have to remember why I went in the first place. That’s you.

An Exam that Doesn’t Count for Credit

by Jack Schall

Michigan Tech is far away from everything and has long difficult winters. The drive to get to campus is an exam that does not give any credit. Due to these hardships that most other college students don’t go through, there is a certain pride with going to college in the UP. Similar to how trades people say everybody else has soft hands, living in the UP can make a person laugh at most other college student’s winters. These hardships that all MTU students have to deal with to perform simple daily tasks are the key to the sense of community.

When I Learned to Write Down Exam Dates

by Andrew Stieve

In the second semester of my first year, things were going well. I was preparing for a Materials Science exam that night, and I had spent the last two evenings studying hard. After I finished my classes, I jokingly texted my friend asking if he was ready. I was not prepared for his response.

“It was yesterday.”

“WAIT WHAT!?” I replied.

In a panic, I wrote an email to my professor explaining the situation, hoping and praying that he would cut me some slack. Thankfully, he let me retake it. I then put all my future exams on my calendar.

Missing Them

by Kylie Overly

Coming to Tech was scary but I was excited. Moving 8 hours away from all that I knew for a fresh start at me. When I got here meeting new people was the easy part, getting over the homesickness was the hard part. For every new memory that I made there was a part of me that wished that someone from home was there too. Missing the little girls that I babysat, missing my little sister, missing my aunt. It will be ok I tell myself. You will see them soon.

A Compass for College and Beyond: The Power of the Pavlis Honors Abilities

Published April 8, 2025

By Jessie Neece

What makes a college experience truly transformative?

At the Pavlis Honors College, we believe it’s not just about the courses you take or the credentials you earn—it’s about who you become along the way. That’s why everything we do is rooted in the Pavlis Honors Abilities: nine intentionally designed mindsets that help you navigate not just college, but life with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

These Honors Abilities aren’t a checklist. They’re a compass.

They guide how you engage with your learning, your peers, your community, and your future.

The Pavlis Honors Abilities:

Learn Deeply
Welcome Challenge
Embrace Ambiguity
Communicate Empathetically
Engage in Mentorship
Value Diverse Perspectives
Know Yourself
Balance Confidence and Humility
Act With Purpose

Each Ability represents more than a skill—it’s a mindset. A way of being. When you reflect on these Abilities throughout your Pavlis journey, you begin to connect the dots between your coursework, co-curriculars, and life experiences. You start to see patterns in how you approach challenges, how you relate to others, and how you make decisions.

And that self-awareness? That’s powerful.

More Than Just Skills—They’re Tools for Life

Let’s be honest: college doesn’t come with a clear manual. You’ll encounter uncertainty. You’ll face moments of doubt, conflict, and growth. The Pavlis Abilities are there to help you meet those moments with intention:

Learn Deeply reminds you that learning isn’t about memorizing facts—it’s about seeking understanding.
Welcome Challenge empowers you to lean into discomfort and grow from it.
Embrace Ambiguity helps you move forward even when the path ahead isn’t clear.
Communicate Empathetically allows you to listen, connect, and lead with care.
Engage in Mentorship teaches you that learning goes both ways—giving and receiving guidance.
Value Diverse Perspectives expands your worldview and sharpens your thinking.
Know Yourself brings clarity to your decisions and authenticity to your relationships.
Balance Confidence and Humility keeps you grounded and open to growth.
Act With Purpose ties it all together—reminding you to move forward with integrity and intention.

Real Students, Real Impact

These Abilities don’t just live in a framework—they come to life in real student experiences. Pavlis students constantly demonstrate how this mindset shapes both their college journey and their future goals.

“Being part of the Honors College has profoundly shaped my personal and professional growth by challenging me to think critically, manage time effectively, and engage deeply with complex issues. It has inspired me to push my limits and explore new opportunities. Balancing academic demands with extracurricular activities has enhanced my work ethic and adaptability, preparing me for leadership roles in both academic and professional settings.”
Emma Strutz, Pavlis Honors Student

Your Journey, Your Story

Whether you’re designing a project, studying abroad, joining an Enterprise team, leading a student org, or just navigating a tough semester, the Pavlis Honors Abilities are there—helping you reflect, grow, and act with intention.

Because college isn’t just about earning a degree—it’s about becoming a thoughtful, purpose-driven individual. The Pavlis Honors Abilities help you do just that. They offer a framework for not only making the most of your time at Michigan Tech but for leading with purpose long after you graduate.

Let them be your compass.