About The MEAC | 3/15/2026 8:48:12 AM

NORFOLK, Va. – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) hosted the 2026 Dr. Dennis E. Thomas Student Leadership Symposium in March in Norfolk, Va., alongside the MEAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament.

More than an annual event, the symposium reflected the MEAC’s enduring commitment to leadership, education, and personal growth. Student leaders from the conference’s eight member institutions came together for an immersive experience designed to strengthen leadership skills, deepen personal identity, and inspire purpose-driven success long after their playing days were over.

Through dynamic, interactive sessions focused on conflict resolution, problem-solving, leadership styles, mental health, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and team building, participants were challenged to think far beyond the scoreboard. The symposium also offered invaluable opportunities to expand professional networks and engage directly with executives and thought leaders from nationally recognized organizations, reinforcing the MEAC’s commitment to preparing student-athletes for success in the real world.

Established by the MEAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors, the Dr. Dennis E. Thomas Student Leadership Symposium  honored the legacy of former MEAC Commissioner Dr. Dennis E. Thomas, whose transformative leadership from 2002 to 2021 helped solidfy the conference’s enduring commitment to education, integrity, and student success.

Eight participants from the 2026 Dennis Thomas Student Leadership Symposium shared a $5,000 scholarship award as the winners of the event’s Academic Challenge competition. The award recipients were:

Jasmine Joseph – NCCU
Julia Head – NCCU
Justin Holloman – NCCU
Jamauvi Hall – NCCU
Alia Goode – SCSU
Alexandra Jones – SCSU
Jayden Briggs – SCSU
Jayden Wallace – SCSU

As the MEAC Basketball Tournament delivered excitement on the court, the Student Leadership Symposium ensured conference’s most important victories continued to happen off it, where student-athletes evolved into empowered professionals, advocates, and trailblazers ready to leave their mark on the world.