The Mary Lou Fulton Lecture is an annual lecture that celebrates the life of Mary Lou Fulton and where the McKay School of Education celebrates the winners of the Mary Lou Fulton Essay Contest. At the most recent lecture, the McKay School and secondary education students had a chance to hear from the first prize winners of the essay contest as well as a special guest lecturer, Liz Darger, Senior Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator here at BYU.
The winners of the essay contest, Bethany Gold in the undergraduate category and Dane Roberts in the graduate category, read their winning essays aloud for attendees of the Lecture. Both touched on the power of love and leadership in real academic situations, drawing upon their experiences as teachers to share how “wisdom is the right application of knowledge; and true education… is the application of knowledge to the development of a noble and Godlike character,” this year’s essay contest theme.
During her lecture titled, “Disciple Leadership: Discovering the Higher Calling of Your Profession,” Darger defined leadership as “the ability to make a difference by influencing others,” a definition that has impacted Darger greatly that was originally coined by Dr. Karen Longman of Azusa Pacific University. Darger added, “As we consider our own roles—whether formal or informal, big or small—we should remember that every single one of us is a leader because we all have the ability to influence others.”
She went on to explain that each of us has a role to play in helping others to recognize their potential. We all have spiritual gifts, and while the Spirit can direct us in how to use and develop these gifts, the Spirit can also work through others to nudge us in the right direction. “We don’t need to receive revelation for anyone,” said Darger, “but we can simply acknowledge [others’] talents and help them discover how to use them.”
Darger concluded with this invitation: “As we think about disciple leadership, let’s consider how we can use the gifts, talents, and skills we’ve developed to influence others for good. Let’s pay closer attention to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, access God’s power in our lives through covenant-keeping, and help others find their divine potential... I hope you will let your light shine and discover the reason for your assignment.”
The winners of the Mary Lou Fulton Essay Contest were as follows:
Undergraduate
First – Bethany Gold, Elementary Education
Second – Kamora Shelton, Physical Education Teacher Education
Third – Stephanie Fairholm, Elementary Education
Graduate
First – Dane Roberts, EdD Education Leadership
Second – Sadie Clark, EdS School Psychology
Third – Pam Smalley, PhD Instructional Psychology and Technology