Norwest Banks commits to building leadership

The workshop is part of the daylong Norwest Collegiate Institute for Leadership conference called "Free Your Mind." The conference is free and open to all students.

Norwest Banks is supporting the conference to kick off its commitment to the Department of Student Programs' Collegiate Institute for Leadership. Norwest Banks is the corporate sponsor of the institute.

"They gave us a ton of money so that students wouldn't have to pay," said Chip West, graduate assistant for the University Activities Board and one of the institute's coordinators. He did not release the specific amount of Norwest's sponsorship.

Jane Levine, market manager for Norwest Banks, said she heard about the CIL after the bank proposed to put a Norwest ATM on the University of Arizona campus.

She said Norwest has contributed to the UA in the past and felt the conference would be a great use of its money.

The conference is intended to support current student leaders and encourage those looking to become more involved on campus.

There will be workshops on post-college skills such as resume building and interviewing strategies. Activities for the students will focus on diversity, ethics and values.

The conference will include free breakfast, lunch and dinner, and students will receive a certificate of completion after attending the conference.

In addition to sponsoring the conference, Norwest Banks will run a session for students interested in a banking career, Levine said.

The conference is only one part of the CIL. West said a resource library is also in the works. The library will provide games, activities, icebreakers and management techniques.

Starting in the fall semester, CIL will offer a weekly workshop series for students on time-management and leadership skills, West said.

Ann Wolnick, assistant director of student programs, will offer a two-credit leadership class in the fall, he said. Four other sections will be taught by Office of Student Programs staff members.

West said the largest attendance for the CIL conference was 105. As of Thursday, 120 students had signed up.

The deadline to register for this year's conference is Friday. Interested students may pick up a registration form in the Department of Student Programs, Memorial Student Union Room 101.