June 27, 2008

BERKELEY - Junior Kyson Bunthuwong of the California men's gymnastics team was chosen as a participant for this year's NCAA National Student-Athlete Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla. Bunthuwong attended the conference May 25-29 at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

"It is an honor to be representing Cal at this conference," Bunthuwong said. "The other candidates that applied are definitely top-notch so I did my best to illustrate what my school has to offer. Everyone knew about Cal without me having to explain to them about my school, which was a nice feeling. I was very excited to serve for the school I am so passionate about."

The symposium provided NCAA student-athletes with a forum to discuss issues that may affect them on their campuses and in their communities, while also providing them with the opportunity to enhance their leadership, decision-making and problem-solving skills. The event also promoted improving communication among student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty and communities. The five-day leadership conference consisted of daily exercises and activities to help the student-athletes develop both as individuals and as contributing members of a group.

"I will definitely take back the motivation that became instilled in me at the conference," Bunthuwong said. "I realize that self-reflection of one's values is a part of becoming a better leader. I want my team to become as dedicated to knowing their own values so they can become individual leaders in their own lives."

Bunthuwong, a three-time All-American, finished eighth in the all-around at this year's NCAA Championships and was 10th on parallel bars in the individual championships. The El Cerrito, Calif., native is a member of Cal's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was the Jan. 21 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation gymnast of the week.

"We're very proud of Kyson and could not think of a better student-athlete to represent the Bears," Cal men's gymnastics head coach Barry Weiner said. "It's a positive reflection on our program and all the team members. He asked me to appraise his leadership skills and interviewed me about my theories on leadership before attending the conference. I think he will learn a lot and use it to improve our team next year."

As a result of their participation, student-athletes enhanced their communication skills as well as interacted with fellow student-athletes from all over the country, which offered the participants unique perspectives into other campuses. Topics for past conferences have included developing leadership skills, changing perception, developing political skills and utilizing the student-athlete committee.

"I really enjoyed the conference because I got to meet so many amazing people," Bunthuwong said. "I thought that the conference really addressed issues facing us as student-athletes and what needs to be changed. Overall, I think I benefited a great deal from attending the conference. It was a life-changing experience."