Between Thursday April 24, and Saturday, April 26, the Bucks County Community Colleges’ Centurion Leadership Program spent the weekend in our nation’s Capital.
This trip was one of the many perks of being involved in the Centurion Leadership program, ran by Chris Seifert and Naomi Thomson. Throughout the semester, students in the Leadership program met up every other Thursday in the Gallagher Room or via Zoom and brainstormed what it means to be a leader.
Every meeting consisted of group work where students of all backgrounds came together and discussed various topics such as service projects, leadership qualities, and goal settings.
The knowledge gained throughout the last few months were put to the test in Washington D.C over the weekend. Throughout the three-day trip, the 19 students who were able to attend had the opportunity to immerse themselves in all things Washington DC.
On Thursday, after a long morning of riding the bus from Bucks Newtown campus to Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station – students spent the two-hour train ride in excitement of what was to come upon arrival.
Once the bags were checked at the hotel, they were off to explore D.C. Starting with access to the Library of Congress after hours, where students explored the exhibits on display, admired the architecture, and walked around the famous library.
The Library of Congress, usually reserved for credentialed researches as stated on the loc.gov website, was open to the public for a special LIVE! AT THE LIBRARY event where the students were able to purchase snacks, listen to music, and enjoy the limited time exhibit of “The Two Georges – Parallel Lives In An Age of Revolution” which details the lives of two very famous George’s who were both shaped by the British Empire.
After soaking in all things reading and having a group pizza dinner at the steps of John Adams Building, students headed back to the hotel in preparation for what would be an even longer next day.
Bright and early on day two, students departed from the hotel for a group tour of the U.S Capitol building. Within the Capitol Building, the students had a guided tour of the National Statuary Hall, The House and Senate Gallery Chamber, and of the Rotunda which has been described as the Capitol’s “symbolic and physical heart”.
After spending the morning at the Capitol Building, students were encouraged to group up and explore the city and to present the leadership qualities amongst one another as they faced the streets of D.C alone without any chaperones.
Many students chose to visit the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the Botanical Gardens. Students were also encouraged to visit as many museums as possible but due to needing day passes not all could explore to their full extent as many of the day passes to museums like The Holocaust Museum and Air and Space Museum were sold out in advanced.
A few of the students had the rare opportunity to take the elevator to the top of the Washington Monument, and examine the world from five hundred feet above the ground as they saw all four prominent points of view including The White House to the north, The U.S capital to the east, the Lincoln Memorial to the west, and the Tidal Basin to the south.
Later on in the night, the Bucks students went full tourist mode and watched the Washington Nationals dominate on the baseball field 5 – 4 as they played against the New York Mets in their home turf at the Nationals Park – followed by a fireworks show and a tiring metro ride back to their hotel for their last night stay.
On Saturday morning, students visited the Ronald McDonald House for a group service where they put their final leadership skills to the test and provided a helping hand to the nonprofit family and children’s charity. The 19 students split themselves into two teams. One team focused on putting a fresh coat of paint on the walls to help maintain its appearance, and the other team focused on prepping meals for the families who utilize the Ronald McDonald House.
Adelaide Birgenheier, the Community and Volunteer Engagement Manager who helped Seifert and Thomas coordinate the event was available to answer any questions the students had as they worked on their required tasks. Birgenheier helped facilitate roles and stressed the importance of the work the students were providing for the families staying at the house.
Amongst the leadership students who attended the D.C trip was 21 year old Biology major, Nakkita Hazare who expressed how her favorite part of the weekend was the service project at the Ronald McDonald house.
“Working in the kitchen and making a delicious meal for families with sick kids in the Ronald McDonald House was incredible. I have never done anything like that before. I admire how everyone worked as a unit, communicated with one another, and adapted to changes quickly” said Hazare about her experience in volunteer work.
For those unaware, the Ronald McDonald Houses are a safe haven for families who have sick children. The houses, usually located near a hospital, are cost-free for the families staying there. They provide a way to ease some of the struggle’s families might be facing.
Finally, after a long but exciting weekend the students of the Leadership Program lugged their bags for the final time on the train back to school. A ride that was filled with new memories, new friendships, and new valuable skills in leadership.
This trip was an amazing educational experience, and something for students to look forward to. The Centurion Leadership Program is available for any students interested in developing student organization skills, team-building, and for making lifelong friends.
The Centurion Leadership Program is a rewarding club to get involved during your time at Bucks. Although the semester is coming to an end, for any returning to Bucks in the fall that is interested in joining, should reach out to Chris Seifert and Naomi Thomas in the Student Life Office.