Office of Student Life

BLF Students meet Les Wexner and T. Boone Pickens

February 12, 2014

Students in the Buckeye Leadership Fellows Program (BLF) had a special opportunity to attend the inaugural event of The New Albany Community Foundation's Jefferson Speaker Series on February 5th

Two of America’s most notable businessmen, Les Wexner and T Boone Pickens, officially launched the series by sharing personal stories of how they have grown into the leaders they are today.  The conversation was moderated by former AEP CEO Mike Morris.

Prior to the event, a special reception was held where students from BLF, the Fisher College of Business, and New Albany High School had an opportunity to meet various professionals in the community as well as Wexner and Pickens.  Alex Jones, a junior in the Buckeye Leadership Fellows Program, said “It was an exciting opportunity for me to connect and network with leaders in Columbus. I was once again impressed and appreciative of the BLF program and our supporters like Jim Miller who consistently provide me and my peers with unique opportunities to be exposed to real world issues and conversations.”  Jim Miller, a New Albany resident and supporter of the BLF Program, hosted the reception and covered the cost of the student tickets to the event.

Kevin Jenq, another junior member of BLF, said the event was “an amazing intersection local and national issues in a unique forum of exchanged ideas, goals, and visions for the sort of world that we as young people may one day live in or even have a hand in creating.”

The Jefferson Series will continue May 20 with author Doris Kearns Goodwin and on June 12 with politician and former astronaut John Glenn.

The Jefferson lecture series is open to the public. Lectures are held at the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts in New Albany.