The MSC Abbott Family Leadership Conference (MSC Abbott) hosts two annual conferences where sophomore and junior delegates have the opportunity to explore their personal values, morals and ethics to establish a personal value system that can be applied to their lives to become capable leaders. 

This year MSC Abbott hosted a total of 90 student delegates at its 28th annual conference with 45 delegates attending conferences in Houston and 45 delegates in San Antonio. Before attending the conference, delegates are placed into family groups. These groups are led by two MSC Abbott directors and are designed for delegates to get to know each other.

“Year after year, delegates say their favorite part is spending time with their family group,” said Kallie Steelman, chair of MSC Abbott “Each family group meets week after week, sharing stories of how they grew up and the values instilled by their families.”

MSC Abbott hosts several speakers at both conferences that speak on one of MSC Abbott’s pillars of family, service, values or ethics. Speakers give delegates an opportunity to hear personal stories of how their values influenced the way they lead their personal and professional lives. During the conferences, family groups meet to debrief speakers' keynote messages and discuss how they can use their own values system to become more effective leaders and discover new aspects to their own morals and ethics. 

Antonia Swenson, vice chair for Houston, credits the conference for being able to hone in her values system. “MSC Abbott gave me space and accountability to find what my values were,” she said. “I’ve heard other speakers say you should define your values, but before MSC Abbott I never really took the time to think that out.”

MSC Abbott has been helping delegates sharpen and develop their values and leadership skills since 1995, and continues to give students perspective on how their ethics can be employed to make them successful in all walks of life.

There’s nothing else like it at Texas A&M,” Steelman said. “MSC Abbott has a focus on family. Everyone’s backgrounds, beliefs, and value systems are going to be so different. MSC Abbott provides a unique experience that everyone has something to gain.”