Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology students will virtually participate in the National Society of Leadership and Success’s 25th anniversary summit, joining an enduring effort to discover strategies to push past limits, lead with purpose and create impact that outlasts the moment.

OSUIT’s NSLS advisors and student members will virtually attend the conference Oct. 24-25, during which they and other conference participants will hear from keynote speakers Gary Tuerack, founder and chief visionary officer of the NSLS, and Tom Krieglstein, founder of Swift Kick and creator of Dance Floor Theory.

NSLS teaches students how to break down goals through a program called SMART goals, which equips students with the tools and knowledge they will need to turn their career goals into reality, according to Annette Lorraine Sontag, OSUIT’s Student Life activities coordinator.

“It teaches them to look at the overarching ideal that they want and break it into manageable steps,” Sontag said. “Instead of just saying, ‘Well, I want to be on Broadway; OK, how do I do that? What are the actual steps that it's going to take? Do I need a degree in theater? OK, I do. So, I need to break that down. What school do I want to go to? How do I apply?’ Breaking it into ‘I can complete this by this time, and I can complete this by this time.’ So, then it's not as overwhelming.

“It also teaches students their communication style and their leadership style so that then they can go out into the world knowing how to communicate better because they understand how they learn and how they teach.”

The process can be applied toward achieving any pursuit, Sontag said.

“The beauty of the process is that once you learn how to break down a goal, you can use it for any goals, personal, professional, career-oriented or just for the fun kinds of things. It works 100% across the board once you learn how,” she said.

Any OSUIT student with a grade point average of 2.7 or higher and at least six completed credit hours can join NSLS. Student Life sends an invitation to join NSLS to all eligible students.

NSLS has regional chapters across the nation. OSUIT became an NSLS chapter in 2019.

OSUIT students who join NSLS go through orientation and participate in leadership training in Covelle Hall. They also participate in the program’s Speaker Broadcast Series, which is aired nationally each semester and has previously featured past presidents, renowned actors and authors and highly accomplished business leaders. The speakers discuss leadership and the importance of breaking down goals.

The student members break down into small groups at the beginning of the semester, and each group sets a goal. Goals are discussed throughout the semester under the guidance of Sontag and Kyle Allen, director of Student Life.

“We get to look at their goals and say, ‘Hey, your goal is really good, and it looks like you have an understanding of how the SMART goal works.’ Or, ‘Hey, this goal is really great. Let's break it down even more. Let's talk about how we can make this even more manageable,’” Sontag said.

The NSLS events are held in Covelle Hall for local OSUIT students, Allen said.

“Once they're a part of the program, they can go to all of the events, which are basically national events. And those national events are sometimes in person, like this summit, or they can be online. They can meet with other chapters across the whole nation,” Allen said.

The October NSLS Summit will include virtual breakout sessions. The focus of the breakouts will vary, including discussions on personal leadership styles, leading as a team and taking leadership out into larger groups.

OSUIT NSLS members usually attend the summit in person but are attending virtually this year to accommodate the Board of Regents’ regularly scheduled meeting at OSUIT on Friday.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the National Society of Leadership and Success?

The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) is a leadership development organization that helps college students build leadership, communication and goal-setting skills. OSU Institute of Technology established its NSLS chapter in 2019.

When is the 2026 NSLS anniversary summit?

The National Society of Leadership and Success will hold its 25th anniversary summit Oct. 24–25, 2026. OSUIT students and advisors will participate virtually.

Who is eligible to join NSLS at OSUIT?

OSUIT students with a grade point average of at least 2.7 and six completed credit hours are eligible. Student Life sends membership invitations to qualifying students.

What do OSUIT students do as NSLS members?

Members complete orientation, attend leadership training and participate in nationally broadcast speaker events. They also work in small groups to establish and pursue goals throughout the semester.

How does NSLS help students achieve their goals?

NSLS teaches students to use SMART goals to break larger objectives into manageable steps. Students can apply these skills to academic, career and personal goals.