The SOAR Philanthropic Society is expecting a bigger turnout at their second student leadership conference.
Last year, about 60 people came to the conference, but Saurabh Bangar said they’re expecting to “cap it at 100 people” this year.
“That way every individual gets quality time with the speakers,” said Bangar, SOAR’s president and CEO.
The panel of speakers include motivational speaker Rick Bains, veteran law officer Kal Dosanjh and entrepreneur Manny Padda.
Padda, a member of SOAR’s advisory board, has spoken at previous SOAR events and he said he’s “super stoked” to speak at the summit.
There will also be workshops on topics such as adversity and community leadership.
When SOAR (Success, Opportunity, Achievement and Results) registered as a non-profit organization in December 2012, the group consisted of eight people. It has now grown to more than 20 people on its executive board.
The idea for SOAR started when Bangar, and SFU business student, realized there were high school students in financial need.
“It hit me that we live in a country with so many opportunities,” Bangar said, but he added that a lot of teens graduating from high school do need financial help to further their education, including his close friends.
Because of this, Bangar – along with the rest of SOAR – now helps to provide financial and moral support for students wishing to attend post-secondary school.
The SOAR Philanthropic Society summit is March 28 at Kwantlen Park Secondary (132 Street and 104 Avenue).
For more information and to register, students can go to www.soarps.org