Elliot Oliphant was one of 245 student-athletes, coaches and administrators to attend the 2025 NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum last month in Dallas, Texas.
 
The four-day forum was held Thursday, Nov. 20 through Sunday, Nov. 23 to help student-athletes grow as leaders on their teams and campuses. Participants learned about their personal values, leadership styles and the role they play in creating a positive student-athlete experience.
 
The theme of this year's forum was "Adjust Your Sails," and gave attendees the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of their core values, develop emotional intelligence, embrace vulnerability, grow their personal network and develop leadership skills.
 
Oliphant, a high jumper on the women's track & field team, was one of three student-athletes nominated by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) to attend on behalf of its member schools.
 
The nautical theme made it only right that the Raiders were represented.
 
"The entire experience was incredibly meaningful because it pushed me to challenge myself and acknowledge areas where I can continue to grow in order to better serve my teammates, the student-athletes of Shippensburg, and the student body as a whole," Oliphant said.
 
During the forum, the lesson that hit home the most for Oliphant was the message that allowing others to see her emotions is not a weakness.
 
"I am naturally a very emotional person, but I tend to internalize how I feel," Oliphant said. "This experience helped me recognize that expressing myself can be healthy for me while also strengthening the relationships around me. By letting others see the real me, I create space for them to feel comfortable doing the same."
 
She added, "I am grateful for everything I learned and look forward to applying these tools on campus moving forward."
 
More information on the forum is available at https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2013/11/21/student-athlete-leadership-forum.aspx