About The MEAC | 3/14/2026 10:19:35 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 reflects the MEAC’s enduring commitment to leadership, education, and personal growth. Student leaders from the conference’s eight member institutions will come together for an immersive experience designed to strengthen leadership skills, deepen personal identity, and inspire purpose-driven success long after their playing days are over.
Through dynamic, interactive sessions focused on conflict resolution, problem-solving, leadership styles, mental health, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and team building, participants will be challenged to think far beyond the scoreboard. The symposium also offers 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 honors the legacy of former MEAC Commissioner Dr. Dennis E. Thomas, whose transformative leadership from 2002 to 2021 helped solidify the conference’s enduring commitment to education, integrity, and student success.
Eight participants from the 2026 Dennis Thomas Student Leadership Symposium were selected as winners of the Academic Challenge competition and will share a $5,000 scholarship award.
The award recipients are:
As the MEAC Basketball Tournament delivers excitement on the court, the Student Leadership Symposium ensures the conference’s most important victories continue to happen off it, where student-athletes evolve into empowered professionals, advocates, and trailblazers ready to leave their mark on the world.