Arkansas Tech University’s Drake Riggs completed the 2025 Arkansas Student Leadership Forum with a renewed awareness of and emphasis on the value of humility.
“Throughout the conference, the word vulnerability kept coming up, and it really stuck with me,” said Riggs. “As leaders, we sometimes feel like we have to know everything, have everything figured out and always have the perfect answer. But the truth is, no one does. And there’s no point in acting like we do. What I learned is that when you’re honest with your team and admit that you don’t have all the answers, it actually builds deeper connection and earns more respect. Vulnerability doesn’t make you weaker, it makes you more authentic, more approachable and ultimately more effective. Your team is there for a reason, and relying on them isn’t a failure, it’s leadership done right.”
Riggs represented ATU at the leadership forum, which took place Nov. 6-8 in Little Rock. It was attended by more than 70 university and college students representing 15 institutions of higher learning.
“The most beneficial part of the Arkansas Student Leadership Forum was the people I met and the leadership lessons I walked away with,” said Riggs, who expressed appreciation to Amy Pennington, ATU vice president for student affairs, for making it possible for him to attend the forum. “I had the opportunity to meet leaders like Arkansas Secretary of State Cole Jester and Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Nicholas Bronni, along with many other incredible individuals who were generous enough to offer their guidance and an open invitation to reach out if I ever need anything. Beyond the connections, I learned a great deal about how to truly lead others. We talked about how to have uncomfortable but necessary conversations, how to communicate with honesty and humility and how to make the people you’re leading feel seen, heard and valued. Those lessons are things I plan to carry with me for a long time.”
A sophomore political science major at ATU, Riggs is from Dover. He said he chose Arkansas Tech because of the welcoming environment he found on campus.
“From the faculty and staff to the students, Tech has a culture where people genuinely want to be here, and that doesn’t happen by accident, it’s built by strong leaders,” said Riggs. “I wanted to be a part of that, not just watch it happen. I’ve always been told I’m a natural leader, and I don’t want to waste that, especially with everything happening in the world right now. I believe my generation will have an incredible impact, and I want to make sure I’m contributing to a positive one.”
A marketing intern in the ATU Department of Residence Life, Riggs also contributes to the ATU community as a student worker for Dr. Jeffrey Cass, dean of the ATU College of Arts and Humanities, as a senator in ATU Student Government Association and chair of the ATU SGA safety committee and as an active participant in Baptist Collegiate Ministry. He will begin a new role as a student worker in the ATU Department of History and Political Science in spring 2026.
Riggs’ future plans include attending the National Student Leadership Forum, graduating from Arkansas Tech and exploring law school options.
“Ultimately, I want to have a career in public service, specifically at the state level, though I’m open to wherever that may lead,” said Riggs. “My goal is to follow God’s guidance in the direction He wants me to go and use my skills and opportunities to make a positive impact.”
