EASTON, Pa. – Six Lafayette student-athletes and two coaches traveled to Annapolis, Md. to attend the U.S. Naval Academy Leadership Conference on Jan. 21-24.  

Michaela Salvati and Chayce Buono (women's soccer), Sean Saw and Hudson Pace (men's golf) and India Ralph and Makenzie Switzer (field hockey) represented Lafayette at the event where they were joined by assistant women's soccer coach Brian Herr and assistant field hockey coach Jop Beuger. 

The Naval Academy has hosted an annual leadership conference for the service academies since 1984. In 2002, the conference was expanded to include university students outside the service academies with Lafayette student-athletes having attended many previous conferences.

The theme of the conference was "The Lifelong Pursuit of Excellence." The conference defines leadership as "...a never-ending process. Whether we're learning from others or from our own experiences, we continue to develop and learn. Regardless of rank, experience, or age, we explore how to gain confidence and competence, and get the job done. What daily habits can we adopt and employ as leaders to set ourselves up for success? How do we turn stress and failure into opportunities? Where is the line between leadership and 'likership' when establishing authority, trust, and respect? How can early-career leaders balance their own growth with successfully leading a small unit? When do we begin to teach, and use what we've learned to benefit others?"

Saw, a junior civil engineering major, reflected on what he took from the conference. 

"I learned that great leaders all had similarities. They were all well spoken, not afraid to admit when they were wrong, and worked through a great deal of adversity," Saw explained. "One of the speakers was Brad Snyder, who served in the Navy and is a gold medalist in the Paralympics for swimming. His speech was very memorable and put into perspective my own personal adversity."

"The conference offered valuable lessons and highlighted that 'character' drives everything," Ralph said. "Personally, the message from the speaker Brad Snyder resonated with me. His mantra of striving to be the 'best version of yourself every day' emphasizes a commitment to continuous self-improvement. It encourages setting high standards, embracing challenges, and maintaining a proactive mindset for ongoing personal growth and excellence."

"Beyond individual experiences, what made the conference memorable was the outstanding culture it showcased. The collective commitment to learning and personal growth for the betterment of their community was truly inspiring," Ralph continued. "Before the conference, my knowledge of the military was limited, but hearing their experiences and understanding their purpose opened my eyes to the incredible individuals who serve America."

"Another notable highlight for me was the opportunity to connect with other Lafayette student-athletes, establishing connections and a shared appreciation for each other's sports and leadership styles."

Herr reflected on the trip at the conclusion of the conference. 

"Vice Admiral Green's speech was certainly poignant in many ways. One particular item that hit home was as he talked about his arrival at Special Operations Command and the realization that they had a problem – 'a lot of good operators with bad character." It resonated because I do feel I am lucky enough to coach a group of high-character young women, but also because, at that moment, there was certainly no shortage of character in the group I was traveling with."