Taylor Leadership Institute sees record-setting community impact
The University of North Florida Taylor Leadership Institute (TLI) partners with organizations on and off campus to make a difference in the community. The program is celebrating a record-setting year of community impact, working with the Ronald McDonald House Charities, First Tee and PGA, Jacksonville Jaguars and Jacksonville Iceman, Franklin Covey Education, and supporting UNF Athletics and the Military & Veterans Resource Center/ROTC.
Ronald McDonald House Charities
The TLI has continued to work closely with community partners at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville. Through this collaboration, UNF students have the opportunity to visit the Ronald McDonald House and provide mentorship and service to patients and their families.
First Tee and PGA
This year, TLI launched a new partnership with First Tee, a local youth development program aimed at building leadership and character through golf. Teens in the First Tee Scholars Program participated in their Pre-College Retreat on campus where they engaged in a series of hands-on leadership workshops facilitated by TLI faculty and students and took part in team-building activities including the UNF ropes course. TLI staff and students also hosted additional sessions at the PGA Tour Headquarters, speaking with graduating seniors and freshman about time management as they prepared for college, some of whom were getting ready to play collegiate golf.
Jacksonville Jaguars and the Jax Icemen
TLI collaborated with the Jacksonville Jaguars to provide UNF students an opportunity to study what leadership inside the Jaguars looked like. The semester-long project culminated in UNF students facilitating an interactive workshop for Jaguars leadership staff to help reflect on and strengthen their leadership. This Spring, TLI also partnered with the Jacksonville Icemen to host our annual Leadership Awards, recognizing and celebrating campus and community leaders that make a difference. The awards show was held at the Veterans Memorial Arena in downtown Jacksonville and featured a keynote presentation by Jax Icemen CEO Andy Kaufmann as well as a student leadership panel. After the awards ceremony, the UNF community enjoyed a Jax Icemen vs. Florida Everblades hockey game downstairs in the Arena.
Franklin Covey Education
This year, TLI launched an exciting new initiate with Franklin Covey Education to bring world-renowned Covey leadership training and resources to UNF students, faculty and staff. The pilot program provides University-wide access to Covey’s LeaderU online platform where students can gain valuable professional credentials, such as the Covey “7 Habits” certification, at no cost to students. As part of this unique collaboration, Covey leadership resources will be embedded into both new and existing courses and programs across campus.
UNF Athletics
TLI continues to partner to UNF Athletics to provide unique leadership opportunities for student-athletes. These opportunities include professional certification through internationally recognized leadership organizations such as Franklin Covey, Day One Leadership and more; team-based and one-on-one leadership coaching; leadership minor with a cohort-based model taught by UNF athletic coaches and staff; connections with career mentors in the sports industry; and community engagement opportunities and experiences.
UNF Military and Veteran’s Resource Center (MVRC)/ROTC
This year, TLI also piloted a new partnership with the ROTC program on campus to create a military-focused leadership development experience for ROTC students, which include a leadership minor with a cohort-based model taught by military leaders under the guidance of Lt. General Rick Tryon, and connections with career mentors across all branches of the US military. Through collaboration with the MVRC, TLI also launched the “Vacations for Vets” program, where military families are gifted vacations from area hotels and resorts following deployment to honor their leadership and sacrifice.