From April 16 to April 18, 2026, six students represented John Cabot University at the Student Leadership Bootcamp in Warsaw, Poland. Organized by the European University College Association (EucA) and hosted at the Warsaw University of Technology, it gathered student leaders from across Europe to build skills in active citizenship, sustainability, and mental health.
JCU’s delegation was made up of three Club Leaders – Lavinia Garwood (Italy), Miguel Presencio Ortiz (Spain), Nathan Ward (USA) – and three Resident Assistants – Erjon Vorfi (Kosovo), Katie Suarez Garcia (USA), Mariateresa Del Prete (Italy) – and they were accompanied by Resident Director Nina Vattovaz.
During the event, the two groups delivered two talks, titled “Fostering a Club of Inclusivity,” where they shared practical strategies for embedding inclusive values into student organizations, and “Living Between Languages: Building a Supportive and Caring Society.”
This event marked the fourth annual bootcamp hosted by the EucA. Since 2008, EucA has worked to “enrich the academic and professional development of students through non-formal educational activities.” This is the third time that JCU student leaders have participated in a Leadership Bootcamp, in addition to other conferences hosted by EucA. The trip was organized by the Student Engagement and Residential Life offices.
Lavinia Garwood, President of the Philosophy Club, recalled how one presenter illustrated the power of community: “They used the metaphor of bees,” she said. “Through their movements and dances, bees create signals to communicate with each other. Those movements are not only a form of collaboration but also a system of communication… Even behind the individual actions, there is a shared commitment to pursuing the same goal.”
The bootcamp offered several sessions dedicated to improving student life on campus. One standout event, the “World Café,” brought participants together at roundtables with a diverse group of international students. They discussed JCU’s unique campus challenges and received feedback shaped by the varied personal experiences of their peers.
Miguel Presencio Ortiz, Social Media Manager of the Film, Media, and Communications Society considered this a major highlight of the trip: “Every person leads, communicates, and builds relationships in different ways. But what every great leader should share is their ability to listen.”
The event was truly international, with participants hailing from universities across Europe, including Luxembourg, Slovenia, Spain, Ireland, and Switzerland. The presentations held by JCU students spoke directly from their experiences in leadership roles at JCU. Nathan Ward discussed how a formal club constitution, which establishes clear standards and expectations for members, can serve asa tool for promoting inclusivity. As Secretary of the Film Appreciation Club, he explained how this translates into ensuring that their film selections represent diverse demographics. Lavinia focused on making events more accessible through an emphasis on open discussion, while Presencio emphasized that effective communication isn't just about sharing information. The aim of the presentation was to showcase how JCU clubs take active steps to make everyone feel truly invited and part of a community.
“These insights represent the core values we hope to foster within the JCU community moving forward,” said Nathan. When summing up her takeaways from the event, Lavinia noted, “Being a leader means being able to bring out the best in other people when you are working with them. This is what collaboration and leadership working together looks like.”
