Students grow skills at Interfraternity Institute

Three University of North Georgia (UNG) students dedicated part of their summer to become stronger leaders within their respective fraternities and sororities, and they plan to take those skills into the workforce.

Presley Bartkow, Kylie Copeland and Clayton Whitmire attended a four-day, three-night immersive leadership experience at a UIFI, or Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute. UIFI events brought together fraternity and sorority students from across North America to challenge perspectives, build meaningful relationships and grow as leaders.

They applied at the suggestion of Michael Steele, UNG director of Fraternity and Sorority Life.

"Presley, Clayton and Kylie are three very different student leaders, and that was actually part of why I wanted them to attend. I wasn't looking for three students who would have the exact same experience or come back with the exact same ideas," Steele said. "What they have in common is that they care about their organizations and about the larger fraternity and sorority community at UNG. I saw potential in each of them to take what they learned and do something with it. Sometimes our role as educators is simply to recognize that potential in a student and give them an opportunity that stretches them a little. UIFI was one of those opportunities, and I knew they would represent UNG well while also bringing something valuable back to our community."

Copeland and Whitmire attended in Indianapolis, Indiana, and Bartkow attended in Fort Worth, Texas.

"I feel like leadership is definitely more than just having a position," Copeland, a sister in Kappa Delta, said. "You can make a change, and you can make a difference in your organization, even if you don't have a title."

Copeland, a junior from Flowery Branch, Georgia, pursuing a degree in elementary and special education, said she left UIFI knowing "that Fraternity and Sorority Life is definitely bigger than just your sole chapter. It is obviously the whole community. You can't just have a thriving community with just one organization. It must all be cohesive and all together."

Whitmire holds the role of vice president of finance and activities for Interfraternity Council (IFC) at UNG as well as vice president of finance for Miracle UNG, and social chair for Phi Delta Theta, his fraternity. He is a junior from Dahlonega, Georgia, pursuing a degree in middle grades education with concentrations in history and language arts.

"This conference taught me a lot about leadership, something I feel is very important in the school environment," he said. "It also helped me build my communications skills, which I can use in my chapter but also with other teachers and parents. It also taught me a lot of networking skills. I can get out of my shell and be comfortable talking to people and meeting new people." 

Copeland, who currently holds the role of vice president of activities for Panhellenic and is a former Panhellenic delegate for Kappa Delta, is encouraging others to attend UIFI if given the opportunity.

"I've been telling all my friends that they need to go," Copeland said. "You're not only learning more about other organizations and how other Panhellenic communities thrive on their campus. You're also learning more about yourself, what you value and how you can take your values and passions and make an impact on your community."