Trevecca Nazarene University welcomed 200 high school students February 25 as part of the Education Equal Opportunity Group's 14th annual Project Save-a-Student Leadership and Training Conference.

"To think that a single encounter with a high school student might change the trajectory of their life ... that's why we welcome the students of EEOG," said Dan Boone, Trevecca president.

The intensive three-day program provides practical and real life learning opportunities not only to help students stay in school and graduate high school, but to continue their education with alternative learning opportunities such as workshops, job fairs, and campus visits around Nashville.

This year's theme, "It's Your Time to Lead!" focused on vision, commitment, and success. Students visited Vanderbilt University and Fisk University along with Trevecca. They also heard from and met Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam along with other political and business leaders.

Workshops emphasized careers such as entrepreneurship, information technology, and politics. Other workshops shared the importance of preparing for college, making positive financial decisions, and pushing past one's comfort zone. 

At Trevecca, Boone met with students and delivered a keynote address before dinner. Boone interviewed a current Trevecca student and his mom, who shared an inspirational story and provided catering for the students through her Nashville business.

Little Caesar's also joined with Trevecca to sponsor the event with their Love Kitchen, a big-rig pizza kitchen on wheels, designed to meet the needs of the hungry, homeless, and victims of disasters.

The EEOG helps potential first generation college students statewide by providing leadership training to more than 10,000 students. The EEOG's emerging student leaders have a 95 percent graduation rate. The mission of the EEOG is to prepare underserved and talented students to become the best leaders in the world.
--Trevecca Nazarene University