Pacers Disney Bound in New Year

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AIKEN, SC (11/13/2018) Several University of South Carolina Aiken students have been selected to participate in the Disney Leadership Experience after the new year.

The group will travel to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., to participate in the Disney Youth Education Series - or YES -- program. While there, USC Aiken students will learn various management concepts employed by Disney and which have been credited for the company's longstanding success.

"This year, the Office Student Life Office enjoyed a great turnout of applicants for this fantastic leadership opportunity," said one member of the selection committee.

"More than 40 students applied, and the selections were difficult to make in the end as there was such an awesome pool of incredible leaders to choose from."

Currently, the students selected for the trip are taking a class that helps prepare them for their experience in Orlando. In the class, students read Lessons From the Mouse, a book written by Dennis Snow, the former CEO of Walt Disney World Resort who began his career working various exhibits across the four parks. In the book, Snow offers 10 tips to help USC Aiken students enhance their leadership experiences on campus. Once they have finished reading the book, each student submits a four-page reflection discussing two of the 10 tips they felt were the most relevant.

Students who have participated in the experience have said that going through this program is a highlight of their college careers. With each passing year, the number of applications continues to grow, and the student life team hopes this trend continues.

The USC Aiken students selected to participate in the Disney Leadership Experience are:

Chastity Abney

Alaa Ajlani

Yasser Alzahrani

Madison Copley

Courtnie Coon

Lauren Effler

Catherine Garvin

Shekinah Hampton

Kimberly Jergenson

Claire Johnson

Michaela Keklak

Addison Kreisher

Morgan Lambert

Kirsten LaVassar

Victoria Riddle

Eric Roberts

Julia Smith

Mason Spires

Kelsey Spurlin

Alaine Sullivan

Jacob Yarbrough

For more information on leadership programs offered at USC Aiken, including the Disney Leadership Experience, go to: https://www.usca.edu/student-involvement/leadership-programs/.