11 Leadership Programs for High School Students in Pennsylvania
- Stephen Turban
- 3 days ago
- 9 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
If you're a high schooler in Pennsylvania looking to explore leadership and build your profile, consider a leadership program in the state!Â
Enrolling in leadership programs is a great way for high school students to develop a repertoire of leadership skills that can have a practical impact in local communities, enhance self-awareness, and acquire a global perspective. In these programs, you can engage in enriching on-campus and off-campus experiences that help expand your skill sets in communication, team-building, negotiation, problem-solving, public speaking, and diplomatically dealing with a variety of conflicts.
Check out 11 solid leadership programs for high school students in Pennsylvania hosted by reputed universities and organizations, providing hands-on learning experiences.
Cohort size: 25 - 30
Dates: Week-long academy in December, followed by monthly gatherings throughout the academic year. Exact dates are not specified.
Application Deadline: Students are selected by City Charter High School
Eligibility: City Charter High School High School students
Cost: Free
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA (twice a year, workshops may be held elsewhere in Pittsburgh)
Leadership, Excellence, Access and Persistence (LEAP) is a non-residential educational program for City Charter High School's under-resourced students hosted by Carnegie Mellon University's Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences and College of Fine Arts. Local artists, activists, and CMU faculty provide students the opportunity to express themselves through hands-on learning experiences in the fields of arts, humanities, and social sciences.
You will attend workshops during a 7-day academy session in December on the CMU campus, working on creativity and critical thinking skills, and engaging in discussions with your peers. Monthly gatherings with faculty and local community members are scheduled to continue working on creative projects centered on themes of equity and social justice. You will also get year-long individual guidance towards your goals, which continues through the end of college. The program culminates with a public exhibition at CMU's Frame Gallery in late May.
Program Dates:Â Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshopsÂ
Cost: The total cost to attend the 4-week program is $2900. There is need-based financial aid.
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X.
Apart from building the start-up itself, you will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideations, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more.The program is an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school and have a space to explore multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
Cohort size: 25 - 30
Dates: Typically late July (residential one-week session) + Saturday workshops and activities throughout the year until April
Application Deadline: Typically early spring, with an extension in dates
Eligibility: African American women enrolled in Grades 9 – 12 in good standing based on academic performance and good character, must be 13 to 17 years old
Cost: Free
Location: Slippery Rock University (SRU), Slippery Rock, PA (may also be held in collaboration with other local colleges and universities)
The Black Female Leadership Development Institute (BFLDI) of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh (ULGP) is a free youth leadership development program that provides educational and leadership opportunities for high school African American girls, encouraging them to become responsible in their homes and communities. The multi-faceted program combines different learning approaches to mold girls into leaders with workshops and activities, including earning badges through the Girl Scouts of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
BFLDI begins with a weeklong residential program on the university campus that enhances practical skills such as networking, teamwork, leadership, and advocacy. In September, virtual sessions are incorporated with weekly/monthly workshops. The program wraps up with an annual luncheon featuring leaders in the African American community.
Cohort size: 65 - 70
Dates: Typically late July (residential one-week session) + Saturday workshops and activities throughout the year until April
Application Deadline: Typically early spring, with an extension in dates
Eligibility:Â African American men in Grades 9 - 12
Cost: Free
Location: Slippery Rock University (SRU), Slippery Rock, PA (may also be held in collaboration with other local colleges and universities)
This is a free youth leadership development program for young African American men to expand their leadership skills to make an impact in school, the local community, and the future workplace.
BMLDI begins with a 7-day residential camp and a series of leadership-oriented workshops and activities throughout the school year. In-person sessions include sharing personal stories, reflecting, and discussing learning experiences with your peers. Workshops scheduled on Saturdays through the year include preparing for college, self and community advocacy, networking, presentation skills, critical awareness, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills. BMLDI hosts an annual luncheon at the end of the program with leaders in the African American community as the keynote speakers.
Cohort size: 400 - 450 each session
Dates: June 29 - July 4, July 6 - 11, July 20 - 25, July 27 - August 1
Application Deadline: Typically May 1, generally extended until all open spaces are filled
Eligibility: High school students who have completed either the sophomore or junior year by June
Cost: Free; with a $295 registration fee that can be waived
Location: Lycoming College or Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, PA, depending on the program week
Foundation for Free Enterprise Education's Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW) is a week-long, fully funded summer camp that gives a glimpse of college life and an insight into what it means to become a business owner or operator through presentations by guest speakers.Â
You will work on diverse aspects, such as a production budget, research and development, and develop a marketing and advertising campaign for your company. Recreational and leisure activities form the fun element (such as an ice-cream social), with an award ceremony wrapping up the week. Each member of the award-winning team will receive a share of stock in a major U.S. corporation.
Cohort size: 120
Dates: June 8 - June 28, June 29 - July 19, July 20 - August 9
Application Deadline:Â April 2
Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in Grade 11 with demonstrated leadership experience and academic excellence of a 3.5 unweighted GPA or higher
Cost: $11,399 + $100 application fee (financial aid is available)
Location: The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
The Leadership in the Business World (LBW) offered by the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, is a highly selective summer leadership program for academically ambitious high school students in the state. With hands-on learning, the program gives you an insight into Wharton's undergraduate curriculum, where you learn how to apply real-world business practices through Wharton Interactive's digital simulations, attend the Wharton Global Youth Speaker Series, and receive the Wharton Global Youth Certificate of Completion.
A typical lecture will see you participating in an intense classroom discussion about core business subjects, such as leadership competencies, customer centricity, and business model generation. Social activities, games, and trips are scheduled for evenings and weekends, with past trips including a mall trip and attending a baseball game.
Cohort size: Approx. 100
Dates: July 14 –18
Application Deadline: June 6
Eligibility: Middle and high school students who are entering grades 7 through 12 in the current school year
Cost: Programs start at $699
Location: Villanova University, Villanova, PA
Wave Week is an in-person leadership camp at Villanova University organized by Spark the Wave, which provides young leaders the opportunity to engage in community service. Students organize and execute a service project for the organization of their choice based on the issue they want to address in their community and beyond, preparing them for real-world experiences. Participants are divided into two tracks as per age (6th - 8th grade and 9th - 11th grade).
In a peer-learning environment, you will develop leadership and communication abilities, enhance team-building skills, and gain an understanding of group dynamics and project management. Other than a few seminars, most concepts are conveyed through a variety of small group activities and discussions, providing a deep insight into the connection between leadership and service.
Cohort size: Information not available
Dates: July 13 –18
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: Rising high school junior or senior with a good academic standingÂ
Cost: $1,750 with scholarships available
Location: Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Penn State School of Hospitality Management's Creating Opportunities for Young Hospitality Leaders (COYHL) is a campus residential program that provides high school students a glimpse into the world of hospitality management. Participants will learn about the diverse career paths in this niche, such as resort management, F&B management, event management, and more.
You will attend educational workshops run by Penn State faculty and alumni to explore what it takes to succeed in different hospitality enterprises. You will also make field trips to various businesses where you’ll explore business models in the hospitality industry and develop key leadership skills, including business communication and presentation. The program culminates with a ceremony where you will be awarded a Penn State COYHL Summer Program certificate of completion and a Penn State digital badge.
Cohort size: Varies as per campus feasibility, typically 25 - 40 with only one student per high school permitted to attend the program per yearÂ
Dates: July 21 - July 27
Application Deadline: April 9
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors, (international students in their sophomore or junior year of high school with demonstrated English language proficiency can also apply)
Cost: $2,600 +Â $35 non-refundable processing fee (EFL Virtual is $900) with tuition discount for early bird registration and need-based scholarships available
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (available at other university campuses as well) or Virtual
The Economics For Leaders (EFL) program offered by the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE) covers the basic principles of economics and their applications in personal financial decisions, international markets, and other aspects of everyday life, with reasoning and leadership theory incorporated into the curriculum. Available as a residential and virtual track, participants of both will get undergraduate college credits (optional) from the University of Colorado (UCCS).
Through the EFL's curriculum, you will understand the economic concepts shaping the world economy and develop effective leadership skills. Topics include Markets in Action, Labor Markets, Property Rights, Government, Inflation, International Markets, and more. You will gain key analytical skills in evaluating economic trends and making informed policy decisions, with simulations indicating the reliability of theoretical concepts.Â
Cohort size: 20
Dates: June 10 – June 18
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Rising 8th – 12th graders
Cost: $895 ($870 if the application is submitted or postmarked before May 1). Scholarships are available.
Location: Winchester Thurston Upper School, Pittsburgh, PA, and sites in Washington, D.C.
Luminari's 'I Want To Be An Ambassador!' is a 1-week leadership and diplomacy camp for high school students that provides insight into the role of diplomacy in fostering connection and collaboration, acquiring cultural understanding, conflict resolution, and more. The camp includes a two-day trip to Washington, D.C., where students visit embassies and tour historical sites.Â
The interactive experience will enhance your writing and public speaking skills, and proper etiquette in various diplomatic scenarios. Students can also earn a merit-based scholarship that will cover the cost of attending the camp by winning a Luminari Award.
Cohort size: 700+ across the three weeks (a camp may be cancelled if not fully enrolled by May 1)
Dates: Multiple cohorts from June 9 to July 11
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students entering Grades 9 -12
Cost: $350 per week with discounts available for siblings and children of York College and York Country Day School’s employees
Location: York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA
Part of the York College of Pennsylvania Summer Academy, Spartan Prep for high schoolers offers immersive half-day programs taught by York College faculty and industry experts. You can choose one session each week with a diverse range of fields available, including creative writing, music, and sports.Â
The Youth Sports Leadership program will help young athletes develop leadership on and off the field through interactive sessions, group challenges, and sports-specific activities.Â
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research in business and leadership, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.Â
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Image Source - CMU Logo
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.