Colleges look for students who demonstrate leadership and have a track record of community service. But contrary to popular opinion, just volunteering at a food bank and giving food to the needy is not enough. Neither is holding a title such as “president” of a club (especially if you do not do very much while holding a title)!

What exactly is leadership?

It’s not easy to define, and developing soft skills such as leadership is a long-term process. Learning about leadership is one thing. Putting it into action is another.

Many students are “natural” leaders and do not need a lot of help in this area, but other students really need support and guidance from a mentor in order to take action. That's why we have the Leadership Academy.

This service-learning program is perfect for students who are interested in learning leadership skills and taking action to serve their communities. Students work one-on-one with a mentor over a period of 15 weeks to start a nonprofit, found a club, or start a community service initiative.

If the student is starting a nonprofit, he or she will learn about creating a legal entity, how to find board members, and fundraising.

Students also do an in-depth study of leadership by studying the work of Nobel Peace Prize winners.

The time commitment for this program is approximately 3-4 hours per week and includes weekly one-hour meetings with a mentor, as well as unlimited email support between sessions.

As a bonus, students may be able to obtain a good letter of recommendation from a member of the community they serve.

This program may be done individually or in small groups (if all the students are committed to the same initiative).

If you're interested in learning more about the leadership academy, please set up a free consultation.