Laker Leader applications opened Feb. 14 and with more than ample time to apply, it is important to consider doing so.

Those selected to be an RA for the upcoming semester, may not want to read on; the dates are conflicting, and students are not able to be both.

For everyone else, Laker Leaders are essentially Mercyhurst’s welcome committee for first year students. As a Laker Leader, your responsibility is to assist with summer orientation and New Student Welcome. This involves getting to know incoming students and making them feel like Hurst is Home immediately through games, activities, small group discussions, ice breakers and more.

Additionally, Laker Leaders are responsible for helping a faculty member teach an Intro to Mercyhurst (or IMU) class in both the Fall and Spring semesters.

Occasionally, they are asked to do additional activities through the Division of Student Life, to further welcome new students to campus.

Those interested should show strong school spirit and embody what it means to be a Laker. In addition to loving our campus, ideal candidates are those who show enthusiasm and dedication not only to schoolwork, but involvement outside of the classroom.

Basic requirements are: being a fulltime, undergraduate student, having a 2.75 or greater GPA, and to be in good conduct standing with no serious sanctions, and to attend all meetings, trainings, and retreats.

Students applying should also have a foundation of leadership skills, be committed to Mercyhurst’s values and mission, be able to work in diverse groups effectively, and have a desire to help other students.

Through the training and experience, students will further their leadership and interpersonal communication skills. It is an overall rewarding experience to make students feel comfortable in a new environment.

If this sounds interesting, the first info night is March 3 at 6 p.m. The final application is due March 16 by noon. The application itself is easy and can be completed quickly. Students will need to provide two Mercyhurst faculty or staff members’ names as references, so be sure to ask a professor. It can be found by clicking the Laker Leader flier on the main student hub page.

Current Laker Leader and junior, Curtis Elder, spoke highly of the program. He is relatively new to the program, becoming a Laker Leader just last Fall. In that short amount of time, he has assisted in New Student Welcome, orientation, Casino Night, and worked with the director of the Honors Program and Writing Center, Justin Ross, Ph.D., and the director of Alumni Engagement, Lindsay Frank in hosting IMU classes.

He originally decided he wanted to be a Laker Leader to “develop public speaking and leadership skills.” This has helped him during his time as a cadet in Mercyhurst’s Army ROTC program where he will become a second lieutenant upon graduation.

Since being selected as a Laker Leader, Elder has found it to be a great “opportunity to branch out and help others.”

This is what he is most passionate about, and he highly recommends the experience to everyone.

Even if you are only slightly curious about it, be sure to attend the info night, which might be just enough to sway you to apply.