Maria Villanueva Abad and Sandro Pacheco Perez recently represented Lincoln Memorial University at the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation’s Ignite Retreat, a regional leadership program focused on service, innovation and community impact.
The LMU students joined peers from colleges and universities across the Southeast for an immersive weekend centered on leadership development, social responsibility and collaboration.
The Ignite Retreat is one of the Sullivan Foundation’s signature programs. It brings together emerging student leaders for hands-on workshops, mentoring and interactive discussions designed to address real-world challenges. Participants explored topics such as creative leadership, social entrepreneurship and community engagement while connecting with students who share a passion for making change.
Students selected workshops from three focus areas: personal development, problem exploration and project development. These tracks allow participants to refine their leadership style, identify social issues they care about or begin building solutions with the potential for real impact.
Villanueva Abad and Pacheco Perez were actively engaged throughout the retreat, contributing to conversations on social impact and community leadership while networking with students from across the region.
A highlight of the weekend was the retreat’s pitch competition, where students presented solutions to real-world problems in front of more than 120 participants.
Pacheco Perez volunteered to compete and confidently presented his ideas, representing LMU with professionalism and enthusiasm. Villanueva Abad also participated in the competition, presenting a proposal addressing the “pay-to-play” challenge in athletics. Her pitch earned second place and drew strong support from fellow students and program mentors.
Natalie Sweet, executive director of LMU’s Office of Research Grants and Sponsored Programs, said both students demonstrated the qualities the Ignite Retreat is designed to develop.
“With enthusiasm, Maria and Sandro put themselves out there in a new situation and fully embraced the spirit of change making this program encourages,” Sweet said. “We are incredibly proud of how they represented LMU through their leadership, professionalism and commitment to positive change.”
The Ignite Retreat also serves as a pathway to additional Sullivan Foundation opportunities, including the Sullivan Fellows Program. The multi-year fellowship provides mentorship, leadership training and access to a national network of peers dedicated to sustainable social change.
The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation partners with more than 70 colleges and universities across the American South to cultivate servant leadership and social entrepreneurship. Students interested in learning more about these opportunities are encouraged to contact Sweet at natalie.sweet@lmunet.edu.
Lincoln Memorial University is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in liberal arts and professional studies. The main campus is in Harrogate, Tennessee. For more information about the undergraduate and graduate programs available at LMU, contact the Office of Admissions at 423-869-6280 or email admissions@LMUnet.edu.
