College to host Scott Anderson Leadership Forum

The College will host 120 students for the annual Scott Anderson Leadership Forum June 13-17. Named for Duluthian Scott Anderson, the forum delivers high-quality, values-based leadership training for students from 14 different Minnesota high schools. This is the College’s fifth year hosting the annual forum.

Anderson was a graduate of Duluth East High School and Stanford University. He was also a fighter pilot, acclaimed canoe adventurer, award-winning author, musician, husband and father. Anderson died while testing the Cirrus SR20 in 1999, and shortly after his death, The Scott D. Anderson Leadership Foundation (SALF) was founded. Sponsored by the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation, SALF was created to inspire students to “find the leader within.” Participants must be nominated by their school faculty or counselors to apply.

During the week, students come together to complete service projects, group activities and engage in discussions about all aspects of leadership. Shawn Olesewski, outdoor pursuit coordinator at the College, works closely with event organizers to deliver a fun, interactive week of training. “Students who attend SALF choose to spend a week of their summer break stepping out of their comfort zone to explore their leadership strengths and weaknesses,” said Olesewski. “The outcomes of the forum align with the St. Scholastica vision to prepare humans who are committed to serve and transform the world. After the forum’s first year at the College, the SALF staff felt like they finally found a location to call home.” The 2022 schedule of events can be found here. Members of the media are invited to attend; interviews can be coordinated on-site.