
2026 Spring Learning
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities at The Graduate Hotel
Friday, March 6, 2025 – Sunday, March 8, 2025
Conference Location
This Spring Learning experience is hosted at the Graduate Hotel on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus.
Schedule of Events
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Time 7983_ee0d0c-82> |
Event 7983_f3b996-1e> |
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Friday, March 7 7983_c731ef-f8> | 7983_220b57-c3> |
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5:00 pm – 7:00 pm 7983_5beaf6-43> |
Conference Check-in 7983_c6965a-64> |
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7:00 pm 7983_5fb8f7-1f> |
Welcome / Opening Session 7983_2e48c4-f6> |
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7:30 pm – 9:00 pm 7983_4a6386-30> |
Keynote: LeaderShape Pt. 1 7983_bd1886-b3> |
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9:00 pm – 10:00 pm 7983_6af424-e5> |
Evening Social 7983_0d0e33-c9> |
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Saturday, March 8 7983_e262c3-b7> | 7983_b4dbb5-9e> |
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9:00 am – 9:50 am 7983_1053ee-8c> |
Education Session Block #1 7983_b6b04b-c6> |
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10:00 am – 10:50 am 7983_fa63f7-78> |
Education Session Block #2 7983_5b2d57-77> |
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11:00 am – 11:50 am 7983_6fcbfd-1a> |
Education Session Block #3 7983_ce6af3-6e> |
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12:00 pm – 1:30 pm 7983_51536c-3a> |
Lunch/ Community Connections (Lunch Provided) 7983_2be799-1d> |
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1:30 pm – 3:20 pm 7983_bc1c1e-51> |
Keynote: LeaderShape Pt. 2 7983_4c2f88-83> |
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3:30 pm – 4:20 pm 7983_ce0109-b9> |
Education Session Block #4 7983_93d585-b8> |
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4:30 pm – 5:20 pm 7983_b0f7c3-8c> |
Education Session Block #5 7983_dde77b-04> |
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5:30 pm – 7:00 pm 7983_12807c-43> |
Dinner On Your Own 7983_6a4103-cf> |
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7:00 pm – 9:00pm 7983_4b5787-36> |
Evening Social 7983_387a94-de> |
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Sunday, March 9 7983_a57ae0-04> | 7983_a88062-21> |
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8:00 am – 9:00 am 7983_d383da-a9> |
Wellness Walk / Morning Social 7983_987ba0-55> |
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9:00 am – 11:00 am 7983_e67501-3d> |
Case Study Presentations / Explore UMN 7983_b327fb-64> |
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11:00 am – 12:00 pm 7983_5bee6a-af> |
Conference Closing Session 7983_91c707-bf> |
| 7983_0c2776-97> | 7983_519f67-c8> |
Hotel Information

Graduate by Hilton Minneapolis
615 Washington Ave SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55414
$184.00 per night plus taxes and fees
Conference Speaker & Highlights
LeaderShape is known for creating immersive learning experiences that help students build the confidence and capacity to lead. With the collaboration of the NODA planning teams they have designed a keynote specifically for our new spring learning series that will continue that tradition by engaging students in meaningful reflection, hands-on practice, and real-world application. The keynote invites participants to explore their personal leadership strengths and styles to uncover how these qualities shape the way they show up on a team and in their orientation leader roles. Through interactive tools and guided reflection, students gain deeper self-awareness and a stronger understanding of their leadership potential.
The follow-up breakout session shifts the focus to communication, helping students learn how to share their ideas with clarity and confidence. Participants will practice giving and receiving feedback, explore how verbal and nonverbal messages impact team dynamics, and develop strategies for navigating high-stakes or peer leadership scenarios. Facilitated by trained LeaderShape educators, both sessions prioritize reflection, skill-building, and practice—ensuring students leave with practical tools they can immediately use. Together, these experiences empower students to lead with intention, communicate effectively, and contribute to a stronger, more connected orientation team.
Check back soon for more conference highlights!
Planning Committee
Emily Wolfe, Co-Chair, University of Iowa
Connor Weir, Co-Chair, University of Iowa
Brittany Franson, Attendee Experience Lead, University of Wisconsin Whitewater
Sarah Jurewicz, Educational Programming, St Olaf College
Kaelyn Hannah, Speakers & Special Initiatives, Wichita State University

