Leadership Students Reach New Heights at Skydiving Event
As emerging leaders, members of the Leadership Program are constantly looking for ways to push their boundaries and step outside of their comfort zones. On September 19, 2015, thirteen members of the Leadership team faced their fears and together went skydiving as part of the Collaboration Initiative. After arriving at Skydive Jersey, the team suited up and headed 13,000 feet into the air for the experience of a lifetime.
Left to right: Team members Zachary Blackwood, Michael Bizzoco, Collin Bailey, Megan Sundberg, Prachi Makkar, Kyle Packnick, Theodore Filardi, Ara Barotilla, Kathleen Yeckley,Vina Tailor, Christine Karolewski, Samantha Seitz, Deniz Yalcin and Stephanie Nwaiwu
By conquering their fears, students were empowered and rewarded with an exhilarating and equally peaceful experience. Whether students decided to take the 120 mile per hour plunge to test their personal limits or because it was on their bucket list, all that came to the event had an incredible experience. Vina Tailor, Class of 2017, was fortunate enough to cross skydiving off of her bucket list. She says:
Being able to cross an item off your bucket list is extremely rewarding. Skydiving was something I’ve always wanted to do, but never looked too much into. When I got the opportunity to skydive with Leadership, I took it instantly. Falling from 13,000 feet never felt so alive and I would highly recommend everyone to do it! The free fall is intense but once the parachute opens and you see exactly where you are, you will be more happy and proud of yourself for doing it!
Skydiving is an experience that students in the program will remember for the rest of their lives, and many students are already making plans to jump again. Mike Bizzoco, Class of 2019, shared that, “Skydiving was such an incredible experience, but to be able to do it with my mentor and second family alongside me makes it something I will never forget!”
A special thank you to Kathleen Yeckley for organizing a successful Skydiving event!
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