Students Explore Principle-Centered Leadership on D.C. Tour With Stephen R. Covey Leadership Center

The Stephen R. Covey Leadership Center at Utah State University recently took 25 student leaders from across the Huntsman School of Business to Washington, D.C., for an immersive three-day leadership experience designed to deepen their understanding of principle-centered leadership and civic responsibility.

The experience offered student leaders a powerful journey through the ideas, places and people that shaped American democracy. From exploring foundational documents to examining leadership through the lives of figures like George Washington, Abigail Adams and Thomas Jefferson, students engaged deeply with themes of visionary leadership, civil discourse, moral courage and innovation. Visits to the U.S. Capitol, White House and Lincoln Memorial, combined with interactive discussions, guest speakers and reflective activities, encouraged participants to connect historical lessons to their own leadership legacy.

The group began their trip at the Museum of the Bible, where they presented U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry Black with the Stephen R. Covey Principle-Centered Leader Award. From there, they toured the White House, where they learned about the country’s founding mothers, and visited the U.S. Capitol for a private tour with Sen. John Curtis.

Students also met with former U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Thomas B. Griffith, who spoke about civil discourse and the growing polarization in society.

“He taught us how we can better talk and better disagree with one another, and how the polarization of this country is heading in a very bad direction, but we can do our part to help fix that,” said Tyler Roberts, program coordinator for the Stephen R. Covey Leadership Center. “It was an inspiring conversation with him.”

The group spent time reflecting at the Holocaust Museum, where they studied individual stories of courage and resilience, and later attended a devotional at the Lincoln Memorial led by Lord Dr. Michael Hastings, Stephen R. Covey Endowed Professor of Leadership.

For Tavo Estrada, ProSales co-president at Utah State University, the experience was transformative.

“The principle that stood out most to me was ‘tireless no matter what,’” he said. “The leaders that we learned about and the people that we met really embodied this principle.”

He highlighted Chaplain Black’s message of “descending to higher ground” and Sen. Curtis’s “concept of bridge building” as standout moments.

“You can’t help but want to just get up on your feet and do something about it,” Estrada said.

Lianne Wappett, director of the Huntsman Scholar Program, said students left the trip inspired by lessons in advocacy, self-awareness, courage, compassion and conversational leadership.

“Someone mentioned the principle of advocacy — not just what you agree with, but also including those you disagree with,” she said. “We have the best job in the world because we get to be inspired by the future.”

Brett Crane, executive director of the Stephen R. Covey Leadership Center, said the trip was designed to help students “aspire higher as leaders, to grow their character and to feel a deeper sense of love and loyalty for this great country.”

“We have so many exceptional stories of moral courage, civil discourse and sacrifice in our country,” Crane said. “It was the perfect place to expose our students to those examples and help them carry those lessons forward.”