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TILLMAN SCHOLARS AIM HIGH
October 12, 2005
by James
Schmehl
Class molding leaders in football player's memory
Pat Tillman's hard hits and touchdown-saving tackles may have made him a football icon, but it was his off-the-field contributions that made him who he really was.
Fourteen ASU students were selected to enroll in the Leadership Though Action class in the fall of 2005 to encourage future leaders to represent Tillman's similar qualities.
The two-semester class at the W.P. Carey School of Business was thought up by the Pat Tillman Foundation as a way of creating responsible, ethical, action-oriented leaders, said foundation executive director and Tillman's brother-in-law Alex Garwood.
And, in order to be a leader like Tillman, talking the talk won't cut it, Garwood added.
"We really wanted to come up with a program that felt like Pat," Garwood said. "He didn't just talk about it. He went out and did it.
"All of the selected students were inspired to do something and now they'll have that chance."
The majority of Tillman Scholars were honored Saturday night at the ASU football game during the first quarter, minus a few students.
ASU women's soccer junior Elizabeth Bogus was recovering after playing in consecutive games Friday and Saturday.
"I had to eat a good dinner and go to bed early," Bogus said. "I would have liked to have been there because I heard it was exhilarating from all my classmates."
Bogus, a member of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Under-21 Pool, said the selection process wasn't simple, but the class has been satisfying.
"We sent in resumes, essays and we had interviews," Bogus said. "But, now that we're in the class, they're making us explore who we are, what we believe in and what we're all about. We all come from such different backgrounds, so I like it, I like it a lot."
Garwood said he has spoken with Dr. Laura Burgis, professor of the Leadership Through Action™ class, as well as her students on several occasions.
"My only regret about making the program is that I'm not able to participate in the class and that Pat isn't there to see it," Garwood said. "Each student saw this as an opportunity to be able to help others and learn about Pat."
In addition to learning the fundamentals of becoming a leader, the students will also develop service projects in the second semester to correct problems they see in their communities.
Reach the reporter at james.schmehl@asu.edu.