GREENWOOD, Ind. - Jennifer Walker-Crawford called it the opportunity of a lifetime.

For Walker-Crawford (Kentucky Wesleyan), Elizabeth Estes (Davis & Elkins) and Taylor England (Alderson Broaddus) and conference staff member Natalie Fiorenza, the chance to attend the 2016 NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum in the heart of Phoenix, Ariz., was one they won't forget.

Last week, the four combined to represent the Great Midwest Athletic Conference in a diverse gathering consisting of about 350 student-athletes, administrators and coaches, from all three NCAA divisions.

During four days of high-energy interactive sessions and various keynote speakers, (ESPN's LaChina Robinson) the takeaways from the week left a lasting impact.

Walker-Crawford, a junior forward in the KWC women's basketball program, reflected on what she gathered at the annual NCAA-sponsored event.

"I was so excited to be there and coming back to campus, I don't want to see this feeling or inspiration ever go," she said. "When I went in, I expected it to be fun and engaging and for us to do some icebreakers -- and I expected to even learn a little bit to get a feel for what other student-athletes and administrators wanted to share and what the NCAA wanted to relate to us."

In an environment where everyone is relatively unknown to each other, Walker-Crawford saw it upon herself to take the initiative and went out of her way to forge new friendships.

Each attendee was assigned to a 'color team' (Walker-Crawford was on the gold team) or a small group of about 40. In short time, everyone became engaged quickly with high-energy discussions and team-building activities.

Sessions varied in length and content, but on Friday they went to an NCAA governance session and there would typically be an activity at night. The bonding continued over dining together.

The colored teams would also create their own chant or cheer and break them out randomly in the middle of a meal or event. Everyone also participated in a community service event where backpacks, lunch boxes and jump ropes, were assembled to be distributed to unprivileged children in the Phoenix area.

Walker-Crawford depicted a telling before-and-after picture of how she viewed herself as a leader, not only on her team, but also with the student body on campus.

"I feel like a completely different person now that I'm back," Walker-Crawford said. "I thought had an understanding of how I could help lead my team and my campus and came back thinking I don't think I knew what I was doing," she said.

"For me, what makes a great leader in someone who is relatable and approachable and does everything out of pure joy and love for the people they are working with," she added. "Allowing people to feel comfortable with you puts you on the same level as them. I've always had the misconception of you have your team and you have your leader. Leaders are the exact same spot as everybody else." Walker-Crawford and Estes, a volleyball student-athlete at D&E, happened to be roommates out of pure coincidence. She spoke glowingly about the fact there wasn't one cohesive group during the duration.

She easily connected with multiple groups, but also didn't really have a shell to break out of with an already outgoing and engaging personality.

"Every day, you met a different group of people," she said. "In a group that big, I was hoping to make a couple friends. I learned so much from people I literally met for two minutes, made plans in 30 minutes to do something and spending three hours together enjoying each other's company."

Walker-Crawford's talents on the court have been on display for the past three years in the conference with increased numbers across the board to show. She has compiled 727 points to rank 17th in G-MAC history and has averaged double-digit scoring in each of the past two seasons.

She was also recently inducted into The Order of Oak and Ivy at Kentucky Wesleyan, the highest and most prestigious honor a KWC junior/senior student can receive.

For 62 years, the institution has recognized students who best exhibit spiritual leadership, intellectual ability, strength of character, dedication of purpose and devotion to Christian ideals in seeking to promote the interests and welfare of Kentucky Wesleyan.