Tecumseh High School hosts leadership symposium with National Guard, U-M athletes

TECUMSEH — Several star athletes from the University of Michigan teamed up with the Michigan Army National Guard for an assembly Friday at Tecumseh High School.

The Hometown Heroes Leadership Symposium is the first of its kind. This is part of the name, image and likeness deal between U-M and the Michigan Army National Guard.

U-M athletes and members of the Guard spoke on leadership and answered student questions, then made care packages with the students for one of the Guard’s units currently serving in Syria.

“We’re working with the University of Michigan athletes to give the students a different perspective on what leadership is and show similarities between the military’s leadership and college athletics,” Capt. Jerred Johnson, the moderator of the event, said. “The athletes have a good reach, and the athletes can talk to the kids that we're trying to get our message to and a lot of these athletes with NIL deals, they do a lot of community involvement. So that’s something that we’re big on in the National Guard.”

Greg Dolson, Tecumseh high assistant principal, set up the event. He has a strong relationship with the Guard’s area recruiter, who suggested the idea of being the first school in the state to have the event.

“It was a no-brainer for us. At the high school we talk about the three E's all the time: enrollment, employment and enlistment. This falls into all three of those categories. It’s an opportunity to build these packages to give back to service members overseas. That’s why we did it,” Dolson said.

The husband of the high school’s behavioral therapist, Laura Mallow, happens to be serving in the same unit in Syria where the packages will be shipped.

“I think it’s just a cool opportunity for our kids to hear from kids that they look up to. They see them on Saturdays. We always talk about what it should look like when you get done with school, and I think all of these players and athletes that are here today are examples of what things look like when you leave high school,” Dolson said. “It’s nice to hear them talk about how they got here and then have our kids hear that message.”

Kris Jenkins, a U-M defensive lineman, said he was happy to have the opportunity to speak on leadership to the kids.

“I thought it was really important to talk about leadership and the importance of what comes with leadership, the important qualities you find in a leader — kindness, resilience, humility,” Jenkins said. “You want to be the type of leader that can not only speak up but lead by example. It’s important to not only be able to lead other people, but also to be able to lead yourself and to be able to set an example.”

Spc. Charlet Howard has been in the Guard for four years now. She had her own ideas of what was important to convey to the kids.

“The idea of striving for something bigger, something better, something greater than what they could imagine they could possibly do with their lives. It’s all possible,” Howard said. “We have people every day that strive for better, and they end up in the NFL, and the U-M, and the National Guard on deployment, paying the ultimate price for our country. Always work towards achieving your goals, and always try to strive for better.”

Mia Manson, a U-M pole vaulter, said that it was a fun experience to be at the symposium and talk to the kids about leadership and communication.

“I think the whole message about leadership and communication is super important and really valuable to anything they do in life, whether they go into the National Guard, continue with sports or just get a career,” Mason said.

Zak Zinter, a U-M offensive lineman, also thought that the communication piece of leadership was important.

“I think of leadership and a big part of it is communicating, especially in sports and as offensive line. We have to be communicating all the time to protect (quarterback J.J. McCarthy); watching defense, making the right points off each other, communicating to the running backs we need to protect,” Zinter said. “(I think it’s important) just to instill in them some core values of what it takes to be a leader.”

Leon Franklin, U-M running back, said that he wanted to convey to students his thoughts about leadership being how one goes about their walk in daily life.

“I appreciated the opportunity to come out here and just talk to the kids, take pictures with them, help them build the care packages for the soldiers overseas. It’s just a great experience,” Franklin said. “One thing I want to tell people is to be true to yourself. Don’t let other people influence your decisions.”

Bianca Le Bron, a junior at Tecumseh High, said she learned some things she can take back to her softball team.

“I learned what a leader is and how it’s different for everybody and how everybody is different in different situations and how to be a better leader for your team and everybody you work with,” Le Bron said.

Tucker Cole, a Tecumseh freshman, said it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet the athletes.

“It was such a cool assembly today to get to see these athletes. They give us their personal experiences and their stories and just more insight I think on everything it takes to go to college and the leadership qualities that the people in the National Guard and these athletes show to get to the next level and how to persevere to achieve what you want in life,” Cole said. “It’s just really cool to see some of these people.”

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: National Guard, U-M athletes talk leadership at Tecumseh High School