Last year, the Leadership Center at Washington State University began an initiative to more deeply appreciate and honor our student leaders through individual recognition. The inaugural Student Leader of the Month award aims to distinguish student leaders that impact the WSU community through leadership, as well as encourage others to learn and engage with student leadership offerings at WSU. In order to be considered for the Student Leader of the Month Award, a nomination must be submitted by a student, staff, or faculty member of Washington State University. After reviewing nominations, Leadership Center staff have selected Mr. Clayton Simundson to receive the honor of Student Leader of the Month at Washington State University for the month of March, 2017.
Clayton has served as the WSU Sigma Nu chapter president, and was selected as one of four students nationwide to serve as a current Grand Collegiate Councilman on the national Sigma Nu Board of Directors. Clayton has also been involved in several programs for the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. We asked him for the message he would give to younger students beginning their leadership journey.
“When you invest yourself in something you are truly passionate about, the opportunities that will present themselves are endless. I have learned so much more than I ever could have asked for through my time as president, as well as my time serving on the Board of Directors. I am truly thankful for all that the fraternity has taught me, and the opportunity to have served Sigma Nu’s at Washington State and across our great nation!
You are going to be faced with challenges when you are in a leadership role. There will be times when the right choice is the harder one to make over an easier wrong. Leadership is never about popularity; it is always about doing the best thing for your organization overall. When you are faced with challenges as a leader you are never alone. Every leader has a team of other reliable people/leaders in the organization; utilize your team to help identify the right route forward and how to overcome that challenge.
Leadership comes in all different forms. Leadership isn’t a title; it is the ability to lead a group of people toward a goal no matter what your role is. You must believe 100% in what you are doing. You can do great things as long as you apply yourself with an all-in mentality. You already made one of your best choices by becoming a Coug, now find something you are truly passionate about and make a difference. That is the Cougar way!” – Clayton Simundson, March 2017 recipient
If you know a Cougar student who has demonstrated exemplary leadership in the WSU community and is deserving of this award, please submit a nomination today at lead.wsu.edu.
Questions or comments may be directed to sild.lead@wsu.edu. Go Cougs!
