Summer Leadership Academy

Explore What's Possible

The 2025 Summer Leadership Academy just wrapped up after an incredible 5-day/4-night experience! Participants spent their mornings attending leadership and college prep sessions, engaged in hands-on career exploration in the afternoons, and took part in personal development and social activities each evening. They also had the opportunity to go on exciting field trips that connected them with real-world career environments and local professionals. Throughout the week, participants stayed overnight in the residence halls, building lasting connections and fully immersing themselves in campus life. New participants who successfully completed this robust, immersive leadership and college readiness program earned 2 college credits from Mount Mary University

"I have become much more confident in my leadership skills as well as in my authentic self. I now feel that I am even better equipped to face my future with a strong head on my shoulders." ~ Hannah H.

"SLA helped understand what it means to be role model and how we can impact anyone just by being ourselves." ~ Magaly EJ.

"…Not only have I learned things about myself and met connected and built relationships with people will remember for ever, but I’ve felt as if this program has really got me outside of my comfort zone and allowed me to leave a better version of myself." ~ Journie H.

"Congratulations and THANK YOU to Mount Mary University for continuing to grow your reach among tomorrow's leaders." ~ Susan Marshall, Author, Speaker, Confidence Coach, Host of Compassion Chat Podcast, and Founder of The Backbone Institute

65+ students

from Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin participated in the 2025 Summer Leadership Academy

The Summer Leadership Academy had a record over 80 applications for the 2025 program! This year, 75% of applicants were eligible and in need of receiving a full-tuition scholarship. To support the Summer Leadership Academy Scholarship Fund, please click the donate button below and select Summer Leadership Academy in the Gift Designation drop down. Thank you for your support!

Since 2018, the Summer Leadership Academy has been developing the leadership potential of young women in high school as well as preparing them for college and helping them to explore career options. The Summer Leadership Academy accepts young women who are currently in their freshmen, sophomore, or junior year in high school. Students gain essential skills and valuable knowledge that will strengthen their college applications and follow them into their future careers. Students who successfully complete the Summer Leadership Academy earn 2 college credits!

The Summer Leadership Academy welcomes high-achieving, mature and motivated high school students who share a common interest in preparing for college success, career exploration, and leadership development. Before applying, students are asked to fully review our website and the application to determine that the Summer Leadership Academy is a good fit.

The Academy prides itself on hosting an incredibly diverse group of young women from across the metropolitan area and across the country. The Academy has consistently attracted young women from different races, ethnic groups and geographic locations. Students hail from many different backgrounds but are united by their drive and commitment.

Applications for the 2026 Summer Leadership Academy will be available January 15, 2026 and must be submitted by March 1, 2026.

The Summer Leadership Academy is a robust and competitive program with a 2-step application process. The following materials are required in the first step of the application process:

General information
A resume of activities
An essay
A letter of recommendation from a current teacher, counselor, or employer. The letter of recommendation must be from an adult not related to you who can speak to your personal qualities and ability to successfully complete the Summer Leadership Academy.

Completed applications are reviewed by the selection committee. Applicants are evaluated on the strength of their essays, their co-curricular resume, and the letter of recommendation submitted on their behalf by a current teacher, counselor, or adult not related to them that can speak to their personal qualities and ability to successfully complete the Summer Leadership Academy.

Admissions decisions will be made on a rolling basis and all decisions will be made on or before March 15^th, 2026. Students should apply early as there is limited enrollment. Applicants will be notified of the selection committee's decision by email.

Applicants who are selected to attend the Summer Leadership Academy will be sent the link to a secondary form, requesting additional information and tuition payment. Students who are not initially selected will be wait-listed for the program.

Accepted students must confirm their attendance by completing the Accepted Student Form and paying tuition in full, making a payment plan, or submitting their scholarship application by April 1st, 2026.

We are committed to including young women from diverse socioeconomic, ethnic, racial and educational backgrounds in each Summer Leadership Academy. Young women in their freshman, sophomore or junior years of high school at the time of application are eligible. We encourage all students with all kinds of interests and backgrounds to apply because we believe that everyone who attends benefits in some way. Diversity of views and interests is considered a strength of the program.

There is no limit to the number of applicants from each high school. However, in order to maintain diversity within the program and integrity of the leadership experience, the maximum number of accepted applicants from any one high school is eight.

The 2026 Summer Leadership Academy will take place June 21-26, 2026.

The Summer Leadership Academy is a residential program. This program provides the opportunity to meet incredible young women from around the country. The residential nature of the program creates an intensive learning experience that cannot be replicated with a series of one-day programs. This experience encourages friendship and camaraderie, building mentoring relationships and extends the learning experience beyond the formal program sessions, as conversations continue over meals and throughout the evening. Most participants will have roommates while some may have a single room with a suitemate (sharing a bathroom). In order to get the most out of this experience, participants will be assigned roommates and suitemates from different high schools.

2025 Packing List

Tuition for the 6-day/5-night program is $900 and includes the cost of 2 college credits, all courses, lodging, meals, materials and supplies. Once an applicant has been accepted into the Summer Leadership Academy, an Accepted Student Form will be sent to the accepted applicants. Accepted students must confirm their attendance by completing the Accepted Student Form and paying tuition, making a payment plan, or paying the scholarship deposit by April 1st, 2026.

Financial Assistance Scholarships:

Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, we are able to offer the Summer Leadership Academy at a reduced cost (actual program cost is $1100 per student) and provide a limited number of financial assistance scholarships to those who qualify. Full and partial scholarships are available. There is a place on the application to indicate this need. Tuition is waived for accepted students who receive a full scholarship award, minus a $50 deposit due upon submission of the completed Accepted Student Form. Summer Leadership Academy staff will verify scholarship eligibility with the applicant's high school. Intent to apply for a scholarship must be noted on the application. Applicants who do not meet full or partial scholarship requirements but cannot pay the full amount of tuition are encouraged to use the payment plan option. Please reach out to Alexandra Hoslet, Program Director, at hosleta@mtmary.edu to discuss options.

The 2026 Summer Leadership Academy will consist of the following sessions:

Mornings: LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT/COLLEGE READINESS SESSIONS

Afternoons: CAREER PATHWAYS SESSIONS (ARTS & DESIGN, HEALTH CARE, BUSINESS, COMMUNICATIONS & TECH OR STEM)

Evenings: PERSONAL/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS and SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

A full agenda will be shared with applicants prior to the 2026 Summer Leadership Academy. All meals will be provided. Agenda is subject to change.

Young women who have successfully completed a previous Summer Leadership Academy are encouraged to apply to be Peer Mentors. These young women put their leadership skills and experiences as Summer Leadership Academy graduates into practice by being small group leaders, positive role models, and assisting current Academy participants. Peer Mentors have specialized training and participate in small and large group programs and activities. During the small group sessions, they serve as facilitators alongside their Adult Mentor partners, leading discussion and conversation to help participants reflect on what they are learning. Peer Mentors must be past participants of the Summer Leadership Academy. Young women in high school, college, graduate school, or post-college are eligible to apply. Applications for the 2026 Summer Leadership Academy Peer Mentor Program will be available January 15, 2026 and will close March 1st, 2026.

Upon successful completion of the Summer Leadership Academy, new participants will be awarded 2 college credits from Mount Mary University. The course is graded on a Pass/Fail basis. The credits are generally transferable to another university, however, each college/university has their own rules on what types of pre-college program credits they accept. Participants should contact the college/university to which they are applying to verify the transfer of these credits. After the Summer Leadership Academy has concluded, participants will be advised on how to access their student transcripts from Mount Mary University.

The Summer Leadership Academy had a record 110 applications for the 2024 program! This year, 66% of applicants were eligible and in need of receiving a full-tuition scholarship. To support the Summer Leadership Academy Scholarship Fund, please click the donate button below and select Summer Leadership Academy in the Gift Designation drop down. Thank you for your support!

Mount Mary University provides a positive and enriching experience for all participants. To ensure the best experience for all of our students, the Women's Leadership Institute Summer Leadership Academy has established the following rules:

Students are required to follow all instructions provided by program faculty, instructors, and staff.
Students must be respectful of other students and program staff.
Students must respect the property of others.
Students must keep rooms clean and orderly.
Students are not permitted to leave their groups or Mount Mary University campus without supervision/permission from Academy Director.

Any minor infraction will result in a verbal reprimand or warning from the Academy Director. Serious infractions will result in a verbal warning and a parent/guardian will be notified by the Program Manager. If infractions continue, participants may be dismissed.

Grounds for immediate expulsion may include, but are not limited to:

Use of alcohol or drugs
Smoking or vaping
Activating fire alarms
Theft
Vandalism
The use of any item that endangers an individual or University property

Mount Mary University will not refund any fees for participants who are dismissed from the Summer Leadership Academy for serious or repeated Code of Conduct violations.

Cell phone use is prohibited in classrooms, courses, and small group sessions unless otherwise stated by an instructor or small group leader. Cell phones must remain out of sight and in silent mode during class or small group time.

If applicable, as the public health situation evolves, the most updated Mount Mary Covid/public health policies and protocols will be sent to participants prior to the beginning of the Summer Leadership Academy. Mount Mary University will continue to follow the recommendations of the CDC and local public health agencies in regard to Covid or other public health protocols.

The program is sponsored each year by companies, organizations, and individuals interested in developing strong leaders. Thank you to these sponsors for seeing the potential in this programs and for investing in the lives of these young women. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2026 Summer Leadership Academy are available now. Please reach out to Alexandra Hoslet, Program Director for the Center for Women's Leadership, at hosleta@mtmary.edu for further information.

Virginia Cornyn '62 Nancy Cheski '65

"I’ve learned the importance of sisterhood and have grown with the girls in my group. I’ve learned to be my true self and to continue to be a strong woman. I now know what to do after high school and the steps it takes to get where I want to go."

Adyson T.

2025 participant

Adyson T.

2025 participant

DISCOVER OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY

Schedule Your Visit Explore The Student Experience