University of Minnesota, Crookston Senior Austin Czichotzki, Barnesville, Minn., will attend the Association of College Unions International Institute for Leadership Education and Development (I-LEAD) at State University of New York in Brockport, N.Y., on July 24-29, 2011. Czichotzki, a communication major, will be chair of Student Programming and Activities for Campus Entertainment (SPACE) at the U of M, Crookston for the 2011-12 academic year.

Czichotzki is the co-recipient of the ACUI Region 10 Jean Kendall I-Lead Scholarship and is also sponsored by the Sargeant Student Center at the U of M, Crooksotn.  Czichotzki has been a student center information desk staff member since January of 2010 and an information desk manager since August of 2010.

The Association of College Unions International (ACUI) is a nonprofit educational organization that brings together college union and student activities professionals from hundreds of schools in seven countries. Its members work on urban and rural campuses, in two-year and four-year institutions, and at large and small schools. They are students and administrators whose mission is to build campus community.

The Institute for Leadership Education and Development (I-LEAD) is a six-day, living-learning program designed to emphasize the key concept areas of leadership, community development, and change. I-LEAD offers an opportunity for the college students to focus on personal growth and other issues facing our world. The institute prepares students to develop skills that will serve them as leaders in any situation, regardless of role, organization, or environment.

Each year, ACUI Region 10, which consists of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Manitoba, and Western Ontario, offers the Jean Kendall I-LEAD award to two undergraduate or graduate students from the Region interested in the experienced-based learning program. For more information on ACUI, visit www.acui.org.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and nearly 40 concentrations, including seven online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,450 undergraduates from more than 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.