Moldovan Global UGRAD fellow Victoria Vlad represented Riverland Community College [2] at the October 15-18 Minnesota Student Leadership Summit, which brought together approximately 300 student leaders from colleges and universities throughout Minnesota. Victoria is a Student Senator and a member of the Student Senate’s Public Relations Board at the Austin, Minnesota community college, where she is studying economics.
Victoria enjoyed attending workshops on leadership during the summit, as well as meeting notable educational and political figures. She and other students had lunch with Senator Al Franken of Minnesota, as well as with James McCormick, the Chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System.
“I was very curious to meet Senator Franken,” Victoria said. “I approached him and introduced myself and told him I am a Global UGRAD student. I was glad to learn he knew about my country. He gave a speech in which he encouraged the young student leaders to keep gathering knowledge and improve the Minnesota educational system. [I was so happy] to meet a government official and have the chance to listen to his motivational speech.”
As part of the summit, Victoria also took part in the General Assembly of the Minnesota State College Student Association [3] and the Minnesota State University Student Association [4]. “It is an honor for me to be a Student Senator and be a voice for Riverland students,” Victoria said. “It is a pleasure to be part of an energetic team of young people who want to make a difference.”
