Jada Burke of Lindenwood women's hockey has represented the University in a positive light on a national scale. After being selected to the 2021 NCAA Career in Sports Forum in late May, Burke recently participated in the 2021 Student-Athlete Leadership Training (SALT) session in June.
The recent training session was a two-day event exposed Burke to transformational keynote speakers, as well as impactful curriculum. The leadership training experience is meant to equip student-athletes with personal development skills to help them grow on and off the field of play.
"One of the first things that was said during the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Training (SALT) was that 'you can't lead others until you lead yourself' and that statement stayed with me throughout the entire experience," said Burke. "SALT gave me the opportunity to grow as a person and better understand who I am as a leader. Determining your core values and creating a leadership philosophy was also a large part of the SALT experience."
"Figuring out who you are as a leader and what it is you want to stand for. Wherever I have the opportunity to lead, I am now more equipped to utilize multiple leadership styles from my philosophy that best apply to who I am leading. It is part of understanding those around me to get the best out of them."
Burke has been a member of the women's hockey team since the 2018-19 season. The Mother Teresa Catholic product was named to the CHA all-rookie team her freshman season, when she scored a team-leading 11 goals. The Nepean, Ontario native has 16 goals, nine assists, and 25 points in her three seasons. Burke quickly evolved into a strong leader for the women's hockey program, as well as the athletics department as a whole. Entering the 2021-22 school year, Burke will begin her third year on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, including her second year on the executive board.
"Moving forward, I want to take what I've learned and my leadership philosophy and apply it to my communities; whether that be on the ice hockey team, the SAAC executive board, or just in life. I know this experience will lead me to being more impactful and an overall better leader. As our great keynote speaker, Jonathan Sprinkles, said 'being a captain is just a title, but a leader is an attitude."
