HARTSVILLE, SC (March 15, 2022) -- Four Coker University students recently served as featured speakers at a national leadership conference for high school and college students in Michigan.

Sophomore Arat Joanico, junior Kerlyn Mondesir, and seniors Seraphin Kibonge and Tyler McCoy were all presenters at MI-CAPP's National Leadership Summit. Each were selected because of their involvement in Coker's TRIO-SSS program.

Joanico inspired with his sessions on "Developing Leaders," sharing with high school and college students on the differences between being a "boss" and being a "leader."

Kibonge educated participants by focusing on "How to Properly Network as a College Student," sharing his experiences as both president of the Coker Student Government Association and his ability to tap into Coker employees to secure a number of professional internships.

McCoy enthralled participants by focusing on "Empowerment: If You Dare to Fail, You are Bound to Succeed," where he shared some of his setbacks while at Coker and how he was able to parlay them into academic and professional successes throughout his Coker career.

Mondesir dazzled on "Leadership in Your Community," focusing on his work on campus with groups like Enactus as well as his efforts in the community heading the Hartsville Community Foundation and volunteering with the Hartsville Fire Department.

Coker's leaders spoke to standing-room-only crowds while at the conference, with students from several states seeking follow-up engagements from the Coker students.

Coker's TRIO-SSS program was formally launched in 2021, through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Since October, under the leadership of Coker TRIO Director Daphne Davis, enrollment in the Coker TRIO program has tripled, with a sizable wait list of students now seeking its student support services.