Motivation and success training to feature ROTC director and Bobcat football head coach

Bobcat football Head Coach Brent Vigen and Army ROTC Director Lt. Col. Christopher L’Heureux will lead a leadership training on Tuesday, April 26, hosted by the MSU Leadership Institute, focusing on the intersection of success and motivation. 

“We’re bringing speakers from faculty that students may not have a normal ability to speak with to a stage that will give students the ability to ask about experiences that the leaders have had to create a sense of solidarity,” Sam Jackson, student associate at the Leadership Institute, said.

The timing of the event is no accident as finals are approaching, which are often stressful for students, given the high volume of papers, projects and exams. “This event is going to tee everyone off for finals,” Jackson said. “We’re going to leave everyone three pillars of success to stay motivated: autonomy, structure and mastery.”

Vigen and L’Heureux are well-versed on such matters, given their impressive records of success. In Vigen’s first season leading the Bobcats on the football field, he brought MSU to its second FCS national championship game in program history. This is another achievement on top of his already successful football career, which includes time as a former player and assistant coach at North Dakota State, as well as offensive coordinator at the University of Wyoming. 

L’Heureux has an extensive and decorated service record with the U.S. army, having been deployed in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. He has also worked as a liaison to the House of Representatives. L’Heureux currently directs the campus army ROTC program and is a professor of military science. 

Discussing the wisdom these speakers can offer, Jackson said, “It's about being coachable. It’s about being adaptable. Any chance I get to obtain information from someone more experienced in a certain field, I want to utilize that. I want to learn and continue to grow. It’s an opportunity to add a few tools to one's belt.”

The event also signals a relative return to normalcy for Leadership Institute events in the post COVID-19 world. “This is single-handedly the largest event we’ve had in the last two years,” Jackson said. “We've had similar numbers, but they were virtual.”

The training is free and open to all (registration is required) and will take place in the 

Procrastinator Theater from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Students wishing to attend the event can register at https://tinyurl.com/4nectnnb.