In the spring of 2019, a new and exciting leadership experience -- The Lawton Leadership Initiative -- was created for the Bucknell women’s soccer and wrestling teams. Developed by the Bucknell Athletics Student-Athlete Enrichment program, this uniquely curated program aims to foster leadership growth and development experiences for Bison women's soccer and wrestling student-athletes. Made possible through a generous donation from BLBB Charitable, the Lawton Leadership Initiative was designed to be executed over a period of three years. The student-athletes are able to participate in an immersive experience each year, anchored in a corresponding pillar of leadership: situational, experiential, and servant. The program was initially kicked off with introductory sessions on the initiative and activities around all three leadership pillars.
Early in the spring of 2020, both teams were excited to begin meeting and planning their Year 1 servant leadership experience, but the pandemic shutdown forced a pause in the program. Now in the spring of 2022, we were able to re-launch the program with this year’s focus on situational leadership, bringing both teams to the Gettysburg battlefields.
Led by Dr. Joe Thomas, Director of the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership, the wrestling and women’s soccer first-years, sophomores and juniors embarked on a staff ride, a character study of leaders and the decisions they make within the context they face. Dr. Thomas led the group to five stops along the Gettysburg battlefield: McPherson’s Ridge, Oak Hill, Culp’s Hill, Little Round Top, and High Water Mark. At each stop, Dr. Thomas was able to share the historical background and focus on key figures and the leadership lessons and key takeaways. Smaller groups engaged in critical thinking along the way and were challenged to apply these leadership lessons to their experience as student-athletes. Group discussions at each of the stands allowed for an engaging day where they each developed personal insights about their own decisions as a leader.
This unique experience allowed student-athletes to learn new insights regarding strategic leadership in a high-stakes environment. Leadership themes focused on: leadership from the front and from the back, the importance of clear & effective communication, collaboration, decision-making during crises, and pivotal moments. Both teams also engaged in after-action back at Bucknell, where they were tasked with identifying significant individual and team takeaways from the experience, and further, how they would implement these into their future Bucknell experiences both on and off the field and mat.
"Gettysburg was an awesome opportunity to learn about leadership off the field," said women's soccer's Petie Nassetta. "It was great to work with the wrestling team and be able to connect the activities we did with both of our sports and see leadership from a bunch of different perspectives. It is definitely a trip that I will remember and I will apply some of the leadership skills I learned to my team next year."
"The Gettysburg experience was an incredible opportunity for our wrestlers to team up with women's soccer and learn more about themselves and how to grow their leadership skills," said head wrestling coach Dan Wirnsberger. "It was an opportunity to learn about connection and effective communication that is needed for all great leaders. An effective leader creates motivation within the team and the Gettysburg trip helped to provide our young men this important skill.
"We are grateful for the support from John Lawton," added Wirnsberger. "There is no doubt about his passion for Bucknell Athletics and his deep care for leadership growth that these student-athletes will carry with them well beyond their Bucknell years."
As the Lawton Leadership Initiative continues into the next pillars of years two and three, both teams will continue to have the opportunity to get to know each other better while working together, sharing successes and failures as they further develop their leadership skills and apply them to successful athletic campaigns and professional life after Bucknell.
