More than 100 Iowa State students are “leaping” at the opportunity to gain leadership experience.

Angela Joyner, leadership adviser for the Student Activities Center, said about 118 students are enrolled in the Leadership Enrichment Action Program, a free campus leadership development program in its second year at ISU.

“LEAP works toward gaining and increasing the practice of leadership,” Joyner said. “We have a wide variety of students.”

Joyner said the students are catered to on individual levels.

She said the three levels of involvement in the program include the introductory Cardinal level, the intermediate Gold level and the advanced Cyclone level.

“The Cardinal level works on fundamental leadership skills,” Joyner said. “It meets six times, and we have sessions in both the fall and spring terms.”

Joyner said the Cardinal group participates in exploratory activities such as leadership style assessment, and is open to anyone who hasn’t had much previous leadership experience.

“The Gold level is a year-long session on in-depth leadership,” Joyner said.

Joyner said Gold members have typically been members of other leadership groups in the past or have had some leadership experience in other activities or groups.

Joyner said the Cyclone group, which will meet for the first time on Oct. 19, “is a lot more advanced.

“Members of this group have been through different types of leadership,” she said. “We help them develop and create a life plan.”

Meetings are Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m., Joyner said.

In addition to the meetings, LEAP members are provided with lists of things to do for “fun and enlightenment” and are encouraged to interact with other members outside of the sessions to develop leadership projects.

“It is encouraged that students join other activities,” Joyner said.

She said LEAP is different from other leadership programs because of the level of student interaction.

“I think [members] get more experience and interaction with their peers,” Joyner said.

Trina Radske, senior in pre-physical therapy, Gold group leader and Cyclone member, said LEAP has allowed her to experience other cultures.

“In Gold, there are four to five countries represented,” Radske said. “It’s an opportunity to work with a very diverse group.”

Kristin Kolsrud, sophomore in journalism and mass communication and Gold group leader, said another way student interaction has been increased is through the development of student group leaders.

“Student leaders are making up the whole curriculum this year,” she said. “It’s what we make of it.”

Kolsrud said her involvement in LEAP has led her to other leadership experiences.

“One of our last sessions last year was on networking,” she said. “That session led me to an internship that ended up being a really valuable experience for me.”

Radske said one goal of LEAP this year is to increase community involvement.

“We’re going to be a lot more involved in community leadership,” Radske said. She said LEAP members will be doing a service project this year which has not yet been determined.

Jamie Klocksiem, senior in microbiology and Gold group leader, said she encourages other students to become involved with LEAP.

“I think [the program] has a lot to offer,” Klocksiem said. “Everyone has the potential to be a leader; you just have to do it for yourself.

“A leader isn’t just someone who stands on a chair,” she said. “You also have to get on the floor.”

Joyner said students interested in joining LEAP’s Gold group for next year or Cardinal group for the spring can pick up an application at the Student Activities Center.