President's Leadership Program

1998

The President’s Leadership Program (PLP) was established by the President of Christopher Newport University, Senator Paul S. Trible, Jr. The Program was designed to prepare students for responsible and engaged citizenship. A Charter Class of 20 students entered the program in the fall of 1998.

1999

An additional 60 students were selected to join PLP as members of the class of 2003.

Incoming PLP students participated in an Outdoor Adventure program as an introduction to the Program. Students spent five days camping in West Virginia, participating in activities including whitewater rafting, rock climbing, hiking, and mountain biking and earning two academic credits toward their minors in leadership studies.

2000

Incoming PLP student numbers: 60

2001

The Program brought in 82 students, and President Trible recruited Dr. Anne Perkins to be Associate Provost at Christopher Newport. Dr. Perkins was previously the Dean of the Jepson School of Leadership Studies in Richmond and helped to add further academic credibility to the program by serving as the academic head of Leadership Studies.

Incoming PLP student numbers: 82

2002

Incoming PLP student numbers: 98

2003

Incoming PLP student numbers: 94

2004

Outdoor Adventure was revised to become Leadership Adventure, a three day extension of Setting Sail summer orientation program. Leadership Adventure provides incoming students with the opportunity to engage in team-building activities and self-development exercises—all while forming relationships, learning more about leadership strengths, and discovering what it means to be a PLP student.

The first group of PLP students attended the International Leadership Association’s Global Conference. CNU had the largest number of students, graduate or undergraduate, in attendance from any university worldwide represented at the conference.

PLP students participated in a Habitat for Humanity house build alongside several corporations including the Daily Press, Howmet/Alcoa, and the Old Point National Bank. Through that project, CNU students raised $16,250 in six months.

Incoming PLP student numbers: 93

2005

Due to increased enrollment in PLP and the expansion of the academic field of leadership studies throughout the world and at Christopher Newport, the Department of Leadership and American Studies was founded during the 2005-2006 academic year. Dr. Bob Colvin served as the inaugural department chair.

Incoming PLP student numbers: 180

2006

Brian Larson became the Director of PLP in the 2006-2007 academic year.

Incoming PLP student numbers: 207

2007

Incoming PLP student numbers: 200

2008

PLP students competed in the inaugural ILA Global Case Study Competition.

PLP led an alternative spring break trip to Sumter, SC.

Incoming PLP student numbers: 190

2009

PLP led an alternative spring break trip to Hilton Head, SC.

Incoming PLP student numbers: 316

2010

PLP led an alternative spring break trip to Biloxi, MS.

PLP students surpassed half a million cumulative service hours within the Hampton Roads community.

Incoming PLP student numbers: 295

2011

Incoming PLP student numbers: 375

2012

The Experience, Develop, Succeed model was established

The Passport Destination Program was incorporated into annual PLP commitments. The Community Service Investigator Program, a student leader position designed to help students get connected to service opportunities, was established.

Incoming PLP student numbers: 409

2013

Incoming PLP student numbers: 378

2014

Incoming PLP student numbers: 369

Dagney Palmer (class of 2017) and Jordan Miller (class of 2016) participated in the McDonough Leadership Conference Concrete Leadership: Bridging the Divide between Theory and Practice.

2015

2015 graduates were the first to receive a PLP alumni pin at Senior Celebration, PLP’s annual program competition ceremony.

Brian Larson was promoted to Associate Dean of Students.

Incoming PLP student numbers: 386

2016

The first group of PLP students engaged in an International Service Experience in the Dominican Republic.

Incoming PLP student numbers: 393

2017

Incoming PLP student numbers: 401

2018

PLP staff presented on the history and success of the Program during the bi-annual Leadership Educators Institute in December: Growing Pains: Remaining Mission-Centric through Growth and Change.

PLP students place first in the ILA Student Case Study Competition.

Incoming PLP student numbers: 406

2019

PLP students place second in the ILA Student Case Study Competition.

Incoming PLP student numbers: 434

2020

PLP students place first in the ILA Student Case Study Competition.

Incoming PLP student numbers: 458

2021

PLP was represented during the International Leadership Association’s Global Conference in a panel presentation titled, From Classroom to Community: Leadership Experiential Learning During COVID, featuring Lacey Grey Hunter '08.

PLP students place first in the ILA Student Case Study Competition.

PLP students place first in the Student Case Study Competition at Virginia Military Institute's Annual Leadership and Ethics Conference.

Incoming PLP student numbers: 389

2022

Ten students traveled to northern Arizona to serve the Hopi and Navajo communities over summer break in an Immersive Service Experience.

Four students traveled to Topeka, Kansas to compete in the Leadership Challenge Event at Washburn University.

PLP hosted Christopher Newport’s first TEDx event. Three students and two alumni were featured as speakers. The event received more than 600 views on livestream.

PLP was featured in four sessions during the bi-annual Leadership Educators Institute. Two PLP students were the only students to present at the event.

A team of two PLP students came in second at the Student Global Leadership Conference’s Big Ideas Competition in London, England.

PLP students place first in the Student Case Study Competition at Virginia Military Institute's Annual Leadership and Ethics Conference.

Incoming PLP student numbers: 418

2023

Ten PLP students traveled to Topeka, Kansas to compete in the Leadership Challenge Event at Washburn University. One team took home the Collaboration Award, the Emerging Leader Award, and Second Place overall - 50% of the awards given at the event

PLP will host the second annual Global Followership Conference and the U.S. Invitationals for the Collegiate Leadership Competition

Ten PLP students traveled to Topeka, Kansas to compete in the Leadership Challenge Event at Washburn University. One team took home the Collaboration Award, the Emerging Leader Award, and Second Place overall - 50% of the awards given at the event.

PLP hosted the second annual Global Followership Conference and the U.S. Invitationals for the Collegiate Leadership Competition.

PLP sent 10 students in four teams to Vancouver, Canada to participate in the 25th annual International Leadership Association's Student Case Study Competition. One team took home first place, making us the university with the most wins in the competition's 16 year history.

2024

A team of five PLP seniors took home first place at the 14th annual Leadership Challenge Event hosted by Washburn University in Topeka Kansas. Judges described PLP's team as highly motivated, supportive, and impressive.

In partnership with Sister Cities of Newport News, PLP hosted their first ever International Immersive Service Experience in Carrigaline, Ireland.