Showing posts with label Four Star Leadership. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Four Star Leadership. Show all posts

Friday, July 13, 2018

Four Star Leadership

Today we finished up our adventures in Oklahoma and made our way back to Texas.  Abigail did get to spend some of her morning with Josiah who was attending the Honors College at OC this week. 

It was a busy week for both of us and the road trip home was filled with lots of stories and catching up on our adventures. 

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11

Thursday, July 12, 2018

Four Star Leadership


This is the big day at Four Star Leadership, competition day.  The Speech competition advanced to rounds two and three.  The Situation Challenge for the Ethics Bowl also moved forward. Abigail's Ethics Team made it through all three rounds!  

The evening concluded with the awards banquet.  Guest speakers for the evening included Former Miss Oklahoma 2017, Triana Browne. There were 70 students competing for twelve scholarships.  Abigail's team of six students took first place in the Ethics Bowl earning $2,000 each to the college of their choice! 

It was an amazing opportunity and I'm so grateful for the doors that were opened up for her.  I'm thrilled it was held on the Oklahoma Christian campus giving her the opportunity to check out the OC campus. 

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.  Psalm 127:1

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Four Star Leadership


The Four Star Leadership went to Gen. Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum for classes. Speakers for the day included Flight Chief 97 SF Squadron Altus AFB, Master Sergeant Jeffrey Cavallaro.  After lunch General Franks hosted a panel discussion before leading the group on a tour of his museum. 

One of Abigail's favorite items included a motorcycle that was given to General Franks by the King of Jordan!   The King of Jordan has spoken at the conference in the past and continues to sponsor youth from his country to attend Four Star Leadership. 

In the evening the youth continued their work within their Ethics Debate teams in preparation for Thursday's competition. I love the picture of Abigail hugging General Franks!  This was towards the end of the day and she stopped to thank him for his generosity and time invested in the youth! 

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Colossians 3:17

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Four Star Leadership

Today Four Star Leadership bused the participants to the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum.  The museum is a memorial to the victims, survivors, rescuers, and all who were affected by the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995.

The participants are too young to remember the events of that day so it was a somber look at our history.  Abigail has heard the story several time of that day.  I was working in Tulsa at Kemper Securities, a stock brokerage firm across the street from the Federal Building in Tulsa.  The news came on of the bombing and images were streaming out on live tv of the horror. Within an hour of the bombing there was a bomb threat to the Tulsa Federal Building.

SWAT teams came busting in our office in full tactical gear rushing us down fourteen flights of stairs to get out of the building. It was chaos and panic.  I also remember waiting to hear that my friends from Oklahoma Christian University were alive.  So much sadness.  

After touring the memorial and museum the group returned to the university for speakers and the first round of their Ethics Bowl and Speech competition. They also took a little time for some team building games after dinner. 

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

Monday, July 9, 2018

Four Star Leadership


Today kicked off Abigail's first full day of classes at Four Star Leadership.  General Tommy Franks created the Four Star Leadership program to underscore the importance of character in today's fast-paced, cut throat, global environment.

The program is designed to mentor the worlds next governors, prime ministers, representatives, delegates and presidents in integrity. Ethical leadership formed on a strong foundation of character, common vision, communication and caring is vital for the future success of our social, political and economic systems.

The students heard from Two-time Olympic Softball Gold Medalist Michele Mary Smith as well as Col. Allen West. They toured the Oklahoma State Capital and finished the day with a dinner at the Oklahoma Governor's mansion. 

"Courage has to do with controlling fear and it seems to me that focus has a way of overcoming anxiety." General Tommy Franks