Vince Dooley brainstorms with members of UGA’s Global LEAD Program, which lets students volunteer and take classes abroad

Vince Dooley, extreme adventure and volunteering 10,000 miles away may have more in common than you might think.
These all come together in one study abroad program called Global LEAD.

Global LEAD – which stands for leadership, education, adventure and diplomacy – is a summer study abroad program that takes students to either Greece, Rio de Janeiro or Cape Town, Africa.

For four – six weeks, students help impoverished communities and earn six hours of University course credit.
But students aren’t the only ones going on LEAD.

Vince Dooley, a renowned former University football coach, is also involved in the program. He traveled to Cape Town last year and will be headed to Greece this summe as well.

“[LEAD] has a service component that separates it from the other studies abroad programs,” Dooley said. “[It's] a real education for someone’s heart.”

Dooley and his wife Barbara first went on LEAD last summer when Kevin Scott and Garrett Gravesen,  along with Robbie Reese and Courtney Doran, all UGA grads and members of the Global LEAD team, called them up and asked them to join the newly-formed LEAD program.

“We watched [Scott and Gravesen] raise phenomenal amounts of money and touch lives previously,” Barbara said. “When we realized what they could do…we jumped on this bandwagon as well.” University student Scott Sumner, a senior from Sylvester, went with LEAD last year to Cape Town.

“I care a lot about service,” Sumner said. He described one experience during his summer with LEAD where he lived for a day like the poor families he was helping. “I lived off a dollar a day,” he said.

This year, the program is expanding to involve other colleges in the trips, something both Vince and Barbara said they are happy about.  Students across the SEC and around the nation will participate and earn up to 6 hours of course credit in leadership and service.

“Service is a part of maturity,” Barbara said.

Vince and Barbara – who will travel with the group to Greece this summer – said LEAD is really about the students volunteering for others.

“We’ll enjoy the experience of being with [the students],” Vince said.
Barbara said that helping those in need is a rewarding experience.

“When you give, you receive a lot more,” she said.

A Global LEAD information session open to all students will be held at 6 p.m. on ThurdayJanuary 14th in the Miller Learning Center, room 248.

                                                                                                               # # #
This article was adapted from the Red and Black article entitled: Dooley on campus to address LEADers  by Adina Solomon