After attending the NCAA Leadership Conference May 30-June 3 in Orlando, Florida, I am even more convinced that the Association is doing the right things. The eighth annual national conference convened more than 350 student-athlete leaders from every division and region to share ideas, accomplishments and goals.

To be sure, anyone who has not attended a Leadership Conference is missing out on one of the NCAA's greatest events.

The NCAA governance structure has spent the better part of three years working through and implementing academic reforms -- and that has been important work -- but every so often it is good to see first-hand what our rules and regulations are there to protect.

Every campus has a handful of student-athletes who are truly outstanding, not just in their athletics and academic achievements, but as people who clearly have leadership skills and who are exercising those skills on campus and in their community. And I know that presidents are proud to have them on their campuses.

What is absolutely startling about the Leadership Conference, however, is the fact that there are 350 student-athletes like that in one place. It is fascinating and exciting to see these student-athletes interact. They are gregarious, smart and team-oriented. They respect each other. There is great diversity -- not only among race, gender, division and sport -- but there are all shapes and sizes, and any number of different backgrounds. Indeed, there is diversity in every possible way, and they get along marvelously.

Someone pointed out to me that if you took 350 very accomplished 50-year-olds and put them in one place, some might start a conversation with a couple of people next to them. But put 350 student-athlete leaders in one place, and they move about and converse with everyone in the room. They are open to new relationships, and the whole world is in front of them. It is something to behold.

Every participant in the Leadership Conference is a star. Each displays leadership skills and they all have great potential when they graduate to be leaders in their communities and beyond. Whatever career they pick, they will rise up in that career. And these are not repeat participants, either. There is a new cast at the Leadership Conference every year.

The vast majority of the participants are members of Student-Athlete Advisory Committees, whether it be one of the national SAACs or a campus or conference SAAC. And those who are not are nevertheless well-acquainted with SAACs and their overall purpose. A good number of these student-athletes have through their SAACs come to understand the NCAA mission in a larger context. The Leadership Conference is another good reason we as presidents, athletics administrators, coaches and faculty should put the student-athlete at the center of all we do.

We too often hear about the problems that student-athletes have, from gambling to law-breaking behavior to academic fraud. The student-athletes at this conference show the other side of the coin, one that is too infrequently brought to light. The NCAA Leadership Conference not only helps build individual student-athletes by presenting them with a powerful learning opportunity, but it also strengthens the Association by developing leaders, some of whom will be influential in shaping the future of the NCAA.

One of the best things the NCAA does is to create leaders and better citizens through athletics participation and through efforts such as the Leadership Conference. The participants there form friendships and networking opportunities that will last them a lifetime.

The Leadership Conference is a feel-good opportunity for someone, like me, who has been a lifelong educator. Indeed, all educators, from faculty members to coaches to athletics directors, should feel proud to claim it as their own.

Myles Brand is president of the NCAA.