Our Crowdfunding Groups
This project is now closed. If you would like to support the NLS Leadership Retreat, please contact Andi Sharp at sharpa5@nku.edu or (859) 572-7530. Thank you!
This project is now closed. If you would like to continue to support the Norse Leadership Society, please make a gift at: give.nku.edu or call Jodi Zerbe at 859-572-5489.
What is it about: This year, the Norse Leadership Society will celebrate its 25th NLS Fall Retreat. Since 1992, over 2,200 unique students have participated in this special event, allowing them to build deep relationships with their peers, faculty, staff, alumni, and community. This life-changing tradition is considered the longest running NKU tradition, with the exception of Homecoming.
Why we need you: We are hoping to raise a minimum of $6,500 to be able to send 100 students to the retreat. For just $5, you can pay for a student's meal during the four-day leadership experience. And just $65 pays for an entire retreat for a student.
Who benefits: Since its inception, this event has been changing the lives of our Norse Family. You donation can help provide a family of new friends who are empowered through experiential learning. These students are transformed, and when they come back to the NKU community they are ready to do great things. With your support, we hope to continue this tradition “Beyond the Horizon” for the next 25 years and beyond!
Testimonials: Hear from alumni how the NLS Retreat changed their lives!
Leighann Rechtin
Associate Professor in Communication and Program Chair, Ivy Tech Community College; Adjunct Professor in Communication, NKU
Leighann first attended the retreat as a Freshman in Undergraduate school – a rare event at that time. The experience was one where she instantly felt “home” because of connections made with fellow students – those of similar age and majors, and those who were a few years older, along with faculty and staff. Retreat means “an act of moving back or withdrawing". Even in 1997, life as a new college student was hectic. The importance of “retreating” and taking time to physically remove oneself from normal life to be immersed in focusing on ones past, present and future is critical. And that is what this experience meant, and why Leighann returned to that retreat 3 more times before she graduated, once as the retreat chair. So when she was asked to be a presenter and family leader in 2008 for the first time, she jumped at the chance to again “retreat”, only this time, on the other side of the experience. Being able to pay it forward and pour in to students the way others had dispensed their knowledge and experiences into her.
So when she was asked to go back the next year as a presenter again, only this time to be able to share the experience with her husband, she was overjoyed! They first met while serving on a retreat team for Leighann’s high school together, so retreats have always been a central focus of their relationship. And this one was EPIC! So much so that they eagerly agreed to go back two more times to present together. A main component of the NLS fall retreats is the family group, and you really leave feeling like a family! The connections made with people of all demographics, and the learning and loving together are what make this event so special. But to call it an event lessens the experience, as it is a spark that lights a fire of passion to last a lifetime!
Gabe Cronon
Project Manager, ProjectMatrix
There are a lot of great experiences I had at NKU but none touched my life like the NLS Fall Retreat. I have had the opportunity to not only attend but lead the Fall Retreat and it has forever shaped me as a leader both in the personal and professional realms. It taught me valuable skills to take into the leadership world professionally and values to use in my personal life. There isn’t a day that doesn’t go by that I don’t use something that I learned from the retreat. There is no greater program that has carried such value for me than the NLS Fall Retreat. These skills, values, lessons and interactions have inspired me to be a values based leader for the rest of my life.
Shauna Prentice
Member Development & Education Manager, Kappa Delta Sorority
The NLS Retreat did so much to prepare me for my current position, not the least of which being encouraging me to enter this career field. My experience on four NLS retreats taught me the power of working with college aged students and finding ways to maximize their potential, growth and impact. My specific role now is member development and education manager for Kappa Delta Sorority National Headquarters, which allows me to plan meaningful educational opportunities for our women through curriculum development and leadership experiences.
My experiences attending and planning the NLS retreat have given me significant insight into the best ways to train student leaders, the importance of community building to ensure successful growth, and the value in really exposing students to new topics and challenging them emotionally and intellectually.
An email thank you from the Northern Kentucky Leadership Institute.
A written thank you note and a shout out on the NKLI Facebook page.
A written thank you note, a shout out on the NKLI Facebook page, and name will be listed in the 2017 Fall Retreat binder.
A written thank you note, shout out on the NKLI Facebook page, name listed in 2017 Fall Retreat binder, and Twitter shoutout from NKLI account.
All of the previous perks, plus a written note from a student who was able to attend the retreat because of your support.
All of the previous perks, plus a written thank you from the 2017 Retreat Chairs.
Da lat da (Da lat da), da lat da (Da lat da) Previous perks, plus your name (or company logo) listed on the back cover of the 2017 binder.