Students will set sail with local community leaders at the Leadership Council’s 10th Annual Leadership Institute Dinner tonight in the Dee J. Kelly Alumni and Visitors Center.

This year’s theme, “Set Sail to Leadership: An Ocean of Opportunity,” is the central thread to the evening agenda of motivating students to become leaders of the community, said Melissa Boyd, assistant director of the Leadership Center.

“This is a great opportunity for students to network among Fort Worth’s finest professional and community leaders,” Boyd said. “We are proud to say that more community members have accepted our offer to attend this year and therefore students will have an opportunity to interact with a more diverse group of community leaders.”

Different attitudes on leadership will be a main topic, said Kathryn Dawson, Leadership Council co-chairman.

“Students will openly discuss different aspects of leadership with peers and community members to gain a better sense of themselves and their personal ideas about leadership in any arena,” Dawson said.

Students will be able to choose who they want to sit with among 25 tables of leaders, Boyd said. This allows students to be in a professional setting among leaders who might share a passion or career interest.

The leadership dinner is student driven so the evening is tailored to the needs and desires of students so that they may gain from the experience, said Dawson, a senior math major.

“The Leadership Institute changed its format two years ago from a two-day conference to just a keynote address and dinner,” Dawson said. “We consolidated the experience into one evening because these were the most effective parts of past Institutes. I think this has helped increase attendance and thus bring this leadership opportunity to more students at TCU.”

Tim Sear, president and CEO of Alcon Labs Inc., will give the keynote speech at 7 p.m.

“Mr. Sear will speak on his experience as an international leader in the business world,” Boyd said. “Specifically, Mr. Sear is known for running an extremely successful company where people truly seem to enjoy working.”

Dawson said this is a chance of a lifetime for TCU students.

“We are giving students an incredible opportunity to be surrounded by influential leaders,” Dawson said. “This evening could change a student’s life if they find a mentor or future employer.”

The cost is $15 for students in the Leadership Center and $20 for all other students. Students can use their TCU meal card.