More than 500 students from across the country will learn at the UA how to be leaders this weekend.

The 20th annual National Collegiate Leadership Conference runs today through Sunday in the Student Union Memorial Center.

The conference is a student-run event open to individuals throughout the United States. It is intended to help students with skills pertaining to their education, families, jobs and the community.

Students – 82 of them from the UA – will participate in five service projects and more than 60 workshops, entertainment and team-building activities.

The service projects will consist of a blood drive, painting and construction of Ben’s Bells and Beads of Courage, Girl Scouts-related activities and a neighborhood cleanup.

“”All of the service projects are being done on campus,”” said Veronica Monzon, a program director for the conference.

Attendance will be about 100 students greater than last year, said Dorothy Nishwitz, a volunteer coordinator for the conference.

This year’s keynote speaker is Herman Boone, a retired football coach whose story inspired the 2000 film “”Remember the Titans.””

Other speakers include LaTanya Sheffield, founder of Sports Extravaganza, Inc.; Nancy Hunter Denney, a motivational speaker and author; and Matt Matera, a UA alumnus serving as the emcee.

The workshops, all voluntary, fall under four themes: personal leadership development, new idea/new program, issues in leadership and leadership transformation.

Emily Hovart, a junior majoring in chemistry and French, participated in last year’s conference and is also attending this weekend.

“”I just really like that you get to see people with similar interests from all across the country,”” she said.

“”You get to show what U of A is about and do team-building activities with people you have never met,”” she added. “”It is a cool atmosphere to spend your weekend in.””

The event is sponsored by the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership.