More than 1,600 middle school, junior high and high school students attended a two-day leadership training workshop at Jones County Junior College Tuesday and Wednesday.

Members of the student council and other leadership groups and organizations at their local schools, the students came from across the state to participate in the annual Mississippi State Association of Student Councils (MSASC) workshop. The theme for this year’s event was “The Vision of Leadership.”

Dr. Samuel Jones, JCJC’s Dean of Student Affairs at Jones, said everyone has a image or vision of how they want things to be. But if the vision is to become a reality, one must have a plan of action.

“Vision without action is a day dream,” explained Jones. “Action without vision is a nightmare.

“Our students do the leadership training. They do various exercises to show students how to think outside the box.”

Among topics discussed in the training sessions were “The Art of Communication and Motivation;” “How to Show Mutual Respect;” “Identification of Values and How They Affect Leadership Styles;” and “Instilling Confidence as a Leader.”

Not only do workshop participants benefit from the event, but JCJC students serving as presenters do so as well. Stan Ellzey, an 18-year-old freshman from Ellisville, said being a presenter helps him develop his leadership skips.

“My goal is to become a leader in the community when I’m done with college,” he said. “I decided to volunteer for this program because it gives me an opportunity to help others and share some of the things I have learned about leadership.”

Ellzey explained that JCJC students who are conducting workshop sessions are all members of clubs and leadership organizations on campus. They were given an opportunity to sign up to work with the students.

Kayla Graham, a 19-year-old sophomore from Foxworth, signed up as a volunteer to help improve her speaking skills. “I’m not good at being in front of people,” she said. “But I want to own my own business one day and I will have to be before people a lot.

“This is good practice for me,” she said. “It also looks good on my resume.”

MSASC Executive Secretary Kayla Bentz said she is thankful that JCJC has agreed to host the workshop. “They have been actively involved in student activities for many years,” she said. “That involvement still continues today.”