10 Summer Leadership Programs for High School Students
Look no further! We’ve rounded up the top 10 summer leadership programs that offer everything from global leadership skills at Georgetown University to innovation and problem-solving at NYU’s Future Global Leaders Academy.
But it’s not all business and academics – the Sadie Nash Leadership Project focuses on empowering young women and non-binary students, while UCLA’s Bruin Leadership & Entrepreneurship Entertainment Academy combines leadership lessons with a passion for the silver screen.
Future Global Leaders Academy – NYU
New York City is America’s premier city, a global center for innovation and business. In the heart of the city sits New York University, one of the country’s best and most highly respected institutions. This is where the Future Global Leaders Academy, one of the top leadership programs for high school students, is set.
The Future Global Leaders Academy is a hands-on, two-week educational program intended for students aged 14-18. This academy has a global perspective designed to help high school students think about how to tackle the problems of the future.
The primary focus of this program is considering how to reach the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, aimed at combating poverty, injustice, and inequality. These are big-picture issues that will challenge the leaders of tomorrow, and this program helps prepare students to be those leaders.
Students who join this program will be innovators and problem-solvers eager to learn more about the global challenges our planet faces and their potential solutions. This competitive summer leadership program for high school students looks great on a resume or college application and includes hands-on, team-oriented applications of the lessons you learn.
Global Leadership Skills and Agents of Social Change – Georgetown
The center of the American political world sits in Washington, D.C, where everyday leaders tackle major international projects. Georgetown University is one of the best-known universities in the country, set in D.C, with many students who go on to join the political fray.
The Global Leadership Skills and Agents of Social Change program is a summer leadership program for high school students, offered through Summer Discovery, intended to inspire and educate tomorrow’s leaders. The program is available for students between the ages of 14-18. It is a two-week intensive course that provides new and unique perspectives.
This course is an excellent addition to a college application or resume and serves as great preparation for the upcoming university experience. It is an academically rigorous leadership program that prepares high school students for what lies ahead while also offering an incredible global education.
The course is centered around learning leadership skills designed for the modern environment, blending concepts of sustainability, social responsibility, technology, and business ethics. This combination gives students a top-notch look at how they can prepare for tomorrow’s business world.
Essentials of Leadership – Wharton, University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania, or Penn, is one of the eight private universities that make up the Ivy League. Wharton is Penn’s business school, one of the top institutions in the world, with a long list of alumni who are titans of industry.
The Essentials of Leadership Program is a summer leadership program led by Wharton, offering a hands-on educational experience with a business focus. This leadership program for high school students is designed for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors, providing valuable insights into what attending one of the top business programs in the world would be like.
This two-week program is entirely online, so students from across the country can access this exciting educational opportunity. It includes various components that make it highly engaging, such as case competitions, guest speakers, and interactive digital simulations.
The program is competitive and designed for students with a strong record of excellence both inside and outside the classroom. It serves as an excellent tool for enhancing students’ chances of admission to top universities, as it is selective and offers a prestigious educational experience.
Sadie Nash Leadership Project
The Sadie Nash Leadership Project is intended for female and non-binary high school students to prepare them for their future as leaders in the workplace. It is one of the top leadership opportunities for high school students, designed to empower and activate young leaders while building a tight-knit community.
The Sadie Nash Leadership Project takes place in New York City and New Jersey, lasting six weeks. It is a virtual program with some optional in-person components, and it is completely free. In fact, students have the chance to receive a $300 stipend at the end, depending on participation, making it one of the best free leadership programs for high school students.
This project encourages students to question and redefine notions of leadership, offering educational material on a variety of topics. Participants can expect to learn about social justice, identity, ethics, and more. It’s a fast-paced program that includes field trips, guest speakers, and interactive experiences.
This program is perfect for all self-identified women and non-binary students, offering an education focused on leadership and inclusion. It’s a fun, enlightening experience that will help prepare young leaders for their future.
Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Bank of America is one of the most powerful banks in the country, and they have dedicated considerable resources to helping others. Their Bank of America Student Leaders Program exemplifies their commitment to the community and is a standout among leadership opportunities for high school students.
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program is highly competitive but extremely valuable for those who are accepted. It is an eight-week program where high school juniors and seniors are connected to major companies in their chosen city for a paid internship at non-profits. This makes it an excellent leadership program for high school students who are looking to gain real-world experience.
The program culminates in a week-long leadership summit in Washington D.C., the heart of America’s political world. Students are paid for their attendance, making it a one-of-a-kind opportunity for participants from all backgrounds to gain hands-on experience at various community-oriented non-profits.
While the Bank of America Student Leaders Program is highly competitive, its impact on its recipients is undeniable. The experience not only enhances college applications and resumes but also builds valuable connections with local non-profits that can help students in the future.
University of Notre Dame Leadership Seminars
The University of Notre Dame is one of the most highly-recognized universities in the nation, and it is the site of this amazing leadership seminar. The University of Notre Dame’s Leadership Seminars is a competitive but highly impactful leadership program for high school students that helps students across the country become the best leaders they can be.
The Leadership Seminars is a ten-day, intensive program held on campus. Students who attend will receive free housing, tuition, and meals, as well as transferable college credit. They’ll also gain a top-notch education, making it one of the most prestigious leadership opportunities for high school students.
Students will tackle complex global issues like war, race, and the environment while working in a collaborative and fast-paced environment. They’ll interact with Notre Dame faculty in small class settings, build friendships with other students, and live in a dorm, gaining a real sense of the undergraduate experience through this notre dame summer leadership program.
This program is highly selective, but students who attend will get to discuss big picture issues and gain insight into their own strengths as a leader. It will be an incredible learning opportunity in an interactive environment with like-minded students from around the world.
Subiendo: The Academy for Rising Leaders – UT Austin
The University of Texas is one of the top public universities in the country, set in one of America’s rising cities. Austin is a new hotspot for tech companies like Apple and Tesla, making it an exciting place for students.
The University of Texas offers several free leadership programs for high school students that provide a chance for rising juniors and seniors to get a sense of what the undergraduate experience will be like. One of these is Subiendo: The Academy for Rising Leaders. This selective, week-long leadership development program is available to students of all backgrounds.
Subiendo will give students the opportunity to explore Austin, engage in case competitions, network with industry leaders, and gain first-hand insight into what life is like at the University of Texas. The program includes leadership seminars, campus tours, and much more. It is team-oriented and collaborative, helping students connect with others.
Subiendo is a selective program, but for those who make it through, it provides a huge boost to their resume and university applications. It’s also a chance to develop leadership skills and experience the university lifestyle.
CLYLP Los Angeles Institute
The Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project is an organization dedicated to empowering and building the leadership potential of California’s youth. The goal is to create more politically engaged, culturally aware, and goal-oriented students, and the Los Angeles Institute plays a significant role in achieving this.
The Los Angeles Institute is a three-day program designed to increase the leadership potential of students from Los Angeles County. The aim is to deepen their understanding of the region’s cultural and political landscape while connecting them with leaders from the community and business sectors.
Housing, meals, and programs at the Los Angeles Institute are entirely free, and students are housed at the UCLA dorms. There will be hands-on opportunities, including mock hearings with city lawmakers and workshops about the college admissions process. Students will leave with a clearer insight into university entry, the workings of the LA political system, and more.
The Los Angeles Institute provides an exceptional opportunity for Chicano and Latino youth to connect with business leaders and politicians. This entirely free leadership program is a tremendous boost for university applications and offers an invaluable chance to develop a network and expand leadership abilities.
Bruin Leadership & Entrepreneurship Entertainment Academy
UCLA is a world-famous university set in Brentwood, a beautiful part of sunny Los Angeles. UCLA offers courses in a massive variety of topics, and their Bruin Leadership & Entrepreneurship Entertainment Academy is an example of the diverse educational experience students can receive.
This course, which is created alongside Summer Discovery, is a two-week intensive intended for students aged 14-18. It is an exploration of leadership programs for high school students, covering a variety of ways to make leaders more effective and how to become better leaders. It uses a model designed to promote self-knowledge, so students can learn more about their own tendencies.
Students will explore an array of topics revolving around leadership and entertainment. They’ll learn about entertainment moguls like Ted Turner and Rupert Murdoch and discuss things like representation and how the portrayal of social and political realities shape society. It is perfect for lovers of the silver screen.
This program will have homework, tests, presentations, and more, so it will provide great preliminary insight into the undergraduate experience. It will explore leadership and related topics in an engaging and enlightening way.
Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program
Did you know women make up half the workforce, but only 27% of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Medicine (STEM) workforce? Girls Who Code is seeking to combat this inequality through early education, and their Summer Immersion Program is a great leadership opportunity for high school students, especially young women.
The Summer Immersion Program is a two-week virtual program sponsored by industry leaders. Students will learn a wide range of web development principles, including CSS, HTML, JavaScript, and more. This program seeks to prepare women for a future in the STEM industry to reduce imbalances.
This program isn’t just about learning coding, though. It is about building community for females seeking a future in STEM, as they will meet a large number of like-minded individuals. It is also a chance to network with female entrepreneurs and engineers who have used their coding and leadership skills to launch lucrative careers.
This program is open to high school students that self-identify as women or non-binary, regardless of skill level. It is an excellent way for students to learn practical skills that can set them up for the rest of their lives.
Conclusion
Summer can be a time for students to unwind and relax after a long school year, but it can also be a time where they gain the skills and experience that will help them down the road. Leadership programs for high school students provide an excellent opportunity to grow and develop valuable leadership abilities.
Leadership skills will always have value, and learning how to enhance yours will benefit you, no matter what you do in your first job or a future career. Investing your time in learning from the best will put you on the path to success, and summer leadership programs are excellent additions to both a resume and college application.
As you can see, there are a massive variety of options for leadership programs, and these ten options are only scratching the surface. There is something for every preference, and learning alongside like-minded students from experienced teachers is a great way to make the most of your next summer.
You’ll make critical choices in high school that will shape your future. Summer leadership programs for high school students are an excellent choice and will position you to unlock your leadership potential before taking your next steps toward college.
If you are considering taking part in a summer leadership program or have done so in the past, we want to hear from you. Comment below about your goals for the experience or share what you gained from past programs, or connect with us on social media.
FAQ
Resources
https://www.aauw.org/resources/research/the-stem-gap
https://www.clylp.org
http://www.sadienash.org/summer-institute
https://about.bankofamerica.com/en/making-an-impact/student-leaders
