For the 14th year, the Allegacy Center for Leadership and Character sponsored five undergraduate students to attend leadership conferences held at the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Military Academy.
Meant to serve as ambassadors for Wake Forest University, the students were selected for the ACLC Service Academy Leadership Program by their professors and are known to have passion for leadership and to possess strong values.
Isabella Orlando (2026, Business and Enterprise Management) and Ben Strasser (2026, Business and Enterprise Management), attended the National Character & Leadership Symposium at the Air Force Academy. The theme was “Courage to Lead in the Profession of Arms: Combat & Crisis-Tested Character.”
Orlando was profoundly influenced by guest speaker Lt. Col Nichole Ayers who spoke of the challenges she faced rising to meet her goals. Turned down by NASA twice, she persevered and went on to serve as the pilot of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 Mission and spent 146 days as a flight engineer during two expeditions and completed one spacewalk lasting more than five hours. From her lecture, Orlando says he learned that, “no matter how many times you’re told no, you’ll never know if you don’t keep trying.”
Strasser spoke of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine’s influence. He said, “I wasn’t expecting to have such a high level representative military and government there to speak.” Strasser said he learned the importance of developing trust and relationships as a leader so that even lower level leaders are ready to step up when needed.
Caroline Wood (2026, Accountancy) attended the McDonald Conference for
Leaders of Character at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The event aims to strengthen leadership skills, critical thinking and collaboration while exploring ways to address pressing global challenges.
Holly Ridings, Chief Flight Operations Director at NASA, taught me to “prepare, prepare, prepare…and to always have a goal in mind. Wood said the experience shaped her leadership style by teaching her to have a “greater sense of humility in being a leader.”
Students Jordan Rill (2026, Business and Enterprise Management) and Cici Hickey (2027, Business and Enterprise Management), were unfortunately unable to attend the event at the Naval Academy due to inclement weather.
Participating students shared their key takeaways and valued experiences with the ACLC upon their return: Testimonials.