Education major Shaylynn Morris-Montgomery of Cardington, Ohio and engineering technology major Pierre Lavette of Marion, Ohio have been selected to represent The Ohio State University at Marion at the 2026 Student Voice Convening, a national gathering of student leaders hosted by Complete College America and the National Survey of Student Engagement. The conference will take place Sept. 18-20 in Chicago.
Lavette and Morris-Montgomery will be accompanied by Ohio State Marion Director of Student Affairs, Chris Trapp.
Both students were honored and humbled as they look forward to a fall weekend of substantive dialogue with other college students from around the country while visiting the Windy City.
“Being selected to represent Ohio State Marion at the Student Voice Convening is an opportunity that means so much to me,” Morris-Montgomery said. “Throughout my time here, this campus has become not just a place where I earn a degree, but also a community that has challenged me, encouraged me, and shaped me into the leader I am today.”
“To know that my peers and faculty see something in me worthy of representing the campus is incredibly humbling,” she added.
“This is a great opportunity for me to connect with other students from other colleges and universities, which I rarely have a chance to do,” Lavette said. “It means a lot to me to be chosen for this opportunity, because Ohio State Marion means a lot to me.”
As a student employee in the Office of Student Life, Lavette said he hopes to learn how other institutions engage students and return with ideas that could further enhance the student experience at Ohio State Marion.
“I hope to gain new skills and build ideas to help leave a mark on this campus, specifically the student life of this campus,” said Lavette.
When considering the multitude of perspectives students will bring to the conference, Morris-Montgomery shared a similar sentiment as Lavette.
“I look forward to learning from students and leaders across different schools, hearing perspectives different from my own, and bringing those ideas back home,” she said.
“I believe leadership is measured not by how many people hear your voice, but by how many people feel seen and supported because of it. I hope to represent Ohio State Marion with compassion, purpose, and a commitment to listening to others,” Morris-Montgomery said.
“As a peer coach and future educator, she said, “I’ve learned that one of the greatest ways to impact others is by making them feel heard. Education has taught me that meaningful change begins with listening, and I hope to carry that mindset into this experience.”
According to Trapp, Lavette and Morris-Montgomery were selected for this opportunity based on their demonstrated leadership skills, which have been extensive, and capacity for further leadership development.
“Shalynn has been a peer coach, connecting with students through college orientation, individual outreach, and small group facilitation,” Trapp said. “Pierre represents the transfer student experience and has gained leadership skills in his role working in the Alber Student Center.”
“Both are pursuing baccalaureate degree programs that can be completed at Ohio State Marion,” she added.
Student Voice Convening, hosted by Complete College America (CCA) and the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) brings together students and institutional representatives from up to 30 CCA Accelerator institutions for a weekend of learning, collaboration, and planning around incorporating student voice into institutional decision-making.
Following the conference, Morris-Montgomery and Lavette will share insights and best practices with campus leaders and fellow students to help strengthen student engagement and amplify student voices at Ohio State Marion.