Leadership U Program Overview
Leadership U (LU) is a unique leadership development and community service program available for Howard County (HoCo) high school sophomores. Eligible students must live or go to school in HoCo. Starting in summer following the sophomore year, this 4-month program fosters leadership growth and civic engagement through three pillar areas:
❖ Education on Community Issues
❖ Student Developed Community Service Projects
❖ Development of Student’s Unique Leadership Skills
Students tells us they love our program because it builds confidence and strengthens their leadership and problem solving skills, they build their professional network by meeting so many community leaders, they implement their own project to make a difference in our local community and they make so many new friends from all around the county that they would never had met before. LU graduates often continue their community service through active
volunteering, school leadership roles, and advisory board positions such as the HC Commission for Women and Human Rights Commission, #One Howard, Recreation and Parks, HCPSS Advisory Committees, and more. Many have also found their expanded leadership capabilities valuable as they transition to college and other future endeavors.
Program Eligibility:
● Students must be current sophomores to apply
● Student must live OR attend school in Howard County
● Must submit online application, two references, and attend interview
Applicant Information:
Application Deadline: March 11, 2021
● Online applications accepted from January to March 11
● Application format is eight short answer questions
● Two references are also required-Students must contact reference and request (one from school and one from outside of school – no family members)
● Personal interviews are held the end of March and April (may be via Zoom depending on Covid restrictions)
● Selection is based on written application, references, and interview. Selection notices are made in early May.
● LU will accept fifty students from all HoCo public high schools and numerous private school and home school programs
● 2021 fees - $995 – Tuition assistance and payment plans are available. Tuition covers the cost for the week-long training, meals, materials and a graduation dinner and ceremony for participant and their parent(s).
Program Schedule: All date commitments are listed on our website
1. Summer Week—July 25- 30 2021 – Mandatory
2. Sunday Session--held on nine Sundays typically from 2 to 4:30 pm between August and December (Please note, some projects necessitate a group to meet on their own in addition to the nine Sunday sessions)
3. 3D-HC—held one day when HCPSS are off from school in fall
4. Graduation— Tuesday, December 7
Program Curriculum:
Summer Week of HoCo Community Learning (part of program may be virtual if Covid-19 restrictions are in place from Gov. Hogan and Dr. Ball - in 2020 we held 3 days in-person and 3 days via Zoom) LU participants visit locations across the county for hands on learning on subjects such as:
● Team Building (Session held at Terrapin Adventures)
● Healthcare (Session held at Howard County General Hospital)
● Government (Session held at Howard County Government Offices)
● Needs of Special Populations such as 50+ Seniors (Session held at 50+ Senior Center)
● Law Enforcement (Session held at Howard County Detention Center)
● Diversity in the County
● Health & Human Services
● Community Non-Profits and needs of the county
Community Service Project Sunday Sessions
At the conclusion of the Summer Week, the LU class is divided into 7 teams to work on student developed and implemented community projects to help address a community need their class has identified. Working with an adult volunteer mentor, all students meet for nine Sunday afternoons (twice a month) from August to December to work on their projects. During these sessions, leadership skill development continues with guest speakers from the community and abundant opportunities for students to apply these leadership skills in their groups and community as they implement their community service projects.
3D-HC – Dig Deep and Discover Howard County
One weekday that Howard County Public Schools are closed, students visit a Howard County non-profit to learn about leadership, nonprofit operations, and to participate in hands-on service.
Graduation
Students present their projects to their families, friends, school administrators and Leadership Howard County board and members.
Conditions for Retention in Leadership U Program:
Attendance at all sessions during the first week of the program – Sunday, July 25, 2021-Friday, July 30, 2021 Adherence to the Leadership U Code of Ethics
Attendance at all required Sunday afternoon meetings – August – December 2021 (There are usually two per month)
Ability to attend ad-hoc team meetings to be determined by each project team (this is in addition to the regularly scheduled Sunday meetings)
Full participation in the design and implementation of the team project
Program Contact:
Meg Ignacio, Director of Youth Programs
Leadership Howard County
6760 Alexander Bell Drive Suite 260, Columbia, MD 21046
mignacio@leadershiphc.org or 410-730-4474 X115
Additional Program Information: Visit www.leadershiphc.org
2021 Virtual Information Sessions for Students and Parents via Zoom from 7-8pm
Wednesday, January 27
Thursday, February 11
Tuesday, March 2