Name: Sydney Peacock
Hometown: Taylorsville, Utah
Major: Nursing
Which engagement track did you follow?: Leadership Track

 

Building a Homecoming Float

​

For my EDGE project, I had the opportunity to build a float for SUU’s 2018 Homecoming Parade.  Every October, SUU invites the clubs on campus to participate in the annual Homecoming Parade by building a float that represents their club.  Because I was the president of SUU’s Student Nurses Association, I too received this invitation.  The theme for the parade is set by SUU’s Student Association.  They decided on “Pushing Limits” for the 2018 theme! 

​

I really enjoyed completing my EDGE Project, and I learned a lot throughout the process. It was also A LOT of work!  Some of my responsibilities included organizing and managing the association throughout the construction process, coordinating with our adviser and our treasurer to set a budget for the project, conducting meetings with the SNA body to draw blue prints and solidify ideas for the float, as well as assign committees and subcommittees to divide the workload. I also worked very closely with our treasurer to purchase all needed supplies and adjust the budget for the project as needed.  My project taught me a lot about principles of leadership, as well as my own strengths and weaknesses as a leader.   

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before starting my EDGE Project, I had many different ideas for what I wanted to do for my project.  When I became the president of SNA, I realized that I would be given opportunities in my position that would allow me to complete my EDGE project, and that perfectly coincided with the Leadership track!  I felt that the invitation to build a float for the homecoming parade would give me plenty of hours for my project and that it would be something I would really enjoy.  I realize that not everyone on campus has these same opportunities.  However, I would encourage anyone struggling to think of an EDGE project to consider accepting/applying for a leadership position on campus!  Doing so gives you many opportunities to interact with others on campus, as well as members of the Cedar City community. 

​

I think that one of the most difficult challenges I faced completing my EDGE project, was motivating other members of the Student Nurses Association to contribute to the process.  I think that sometimes, students get so overwhelmed academically, that they are hesitant to participate in other extra-curricular things happening on campus.  One of the ways I got around this was by trying to make tasks fun along the way.  For example, on all of the days we were doing construction or painting, I played music and brought lots of snacks!  I also assigned SNA members to different committees they were interested in being a part of.  This also turned out to be a great way to divide the workload!   

 

Although my EDGE project really benefited me, I think that it helped several other people as well.  One of these groups being the other members of the Student Nurses Association.  I think that my project gave these students an opportunity to get more involved in the extra-curricular events happening on campus.  It also gave them the chance to occupy leadership positions themselves.  My project also benefited the members of the Cedar City community.  Families attending the parade were better able to enjoy it because of our float! 

Most of all, my project benefited me.  I learned a lot about the principles of leadership; what was effective, and what was not.  I also learned a lot about myself.  Especially about my strengths and weaknesses as a leader.  One of the best lessons I learned was how to complete a project from start to finish!  Overall, I really enjoyed completing my EDGE project!    

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”
John F. Kennedy