2026 Junior Leadership Program Application

Leadership Lake County has provided leadership development programs since 1987. The experiential nature of our program days and the preparation for workplace and community leadership roles are the hallmarks of our programs. It is a unique opportunity designed to guide students to reach his or her full leadership potential.

Application Due Date: May 2, 2025

Class size is limited and late applications may not be considered.

Please note: Invoices for the $425 non-refundable participation fee will be issued with notification of acceptance. Need-based partial financial assistance may be available upon written request from the student participant. Do NOT send payment with application.

MONTHLY SESSIONS: The monthly all-day sessions begin September 2025 and end in April 2026 on the first Wednesday of each month unless otherwise noted. Program Days are from 8:00 am am until 2:30 pm. Students may miss one non-mandatory day and remain eligible for graduation from the program. The schedule for 2025 - 2026 is as follows:

2026 JLP Dates

July 28- August 2 SS Kids packing week at Salvation Army (service opportunity)

August 17 Opening Retreat 9:00am - 4:00pm

September 3 Lake County History Day

October 1 Education Day

November 5 Business, Labor & Economy Day

December 3 Government Day

January 21 Mid-year Retreat with Signature Program (^4th Wednesday – 8:30 – 2:30)

February 4 Public Safety and Justice Day

March 4 Health Care and Health Living Day

March TBD Kids Show (Saturday - LLC sponsored service opportunity – two hour shifts available throughout the day)

April 1 Environment Day

April 30 Graduation

First Name

Last Name

Name as it should appear on name tag (what do you like to be called)

Birthdate (mm/dd/yyyy)

Student Email

Parent Email

Student Mobile

Parent Mobile

Parent Name

Home Address

City

Zip Code

High School

Student School ID Number

GPA (2.0 Minimum Required)

Grade for 2025-2026 School Year

Select Grade

Demographic Information (for internal use only)

Sex

Select Gender

Male
Female
Trans
Prefer not to answer

Ethnicity

Select One

White
Asian
African American
Hispanic-Latino
Native American
Bi-racial
Other

Dietary Restrictions/Allergies

Shirt Size

Select Size

Organizations and Activities

In order of importance, please list the top three activities you have been involved with over the past three years.

What activities (clubs, sports, volunteer, church, community) are you committed to in the 2024-2025 school year?

Essay Submissions

Please answer carefully, as this is the most heavily weighted component of the selection process. Please type your response in 200-300 words for each question. We urge you to draft your responses in a text document and proof carefully before pasting into your application.

Why do you consider yourself to be a future leader? How do you plan to take what you learn from this experience back to your school and community?

Pick one of the activities you listed above and describe how you have made an impact within the organization or a time you have been an effective leader. This can be an official leadership position or a time when you have led as an unofficial leader. Please be specific about what you did to contribute to the success of the organization or event.

Please tell us about your work or volunteer experience(s). Are you working now? What was the most important thing you learned about yourself when working for a company or volunteering for an organization? Provide details and dates of employment or service.

Reference Letter

Your application requires that we receive one letter of reference from someone who knows you well outside of school.

The letter must include the name, complete mailing address, and phone number of your reference.

The letter should address the following: For how long and in what capacity have you known the applicant? Describe the applicant's leadership potential, including strengths and areas for growth. What distinguishes this applicant from other candidates you might recommend?

The letter must be received on or before May 2, 2025.

The letter may be scanned and uploaded via the link on the application page, emailed to gfletcher@leadershiplc.org, or mailed to Director of Youth Programs Leadership Lake County, 8804 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44060.

School Approval and Recommendation

All applicants must have the approval of their school principal to attend the program sessions of Leadership Lake County's Junior Leadership Program. Please check with him/her about required attendance procedure. Please ask your principal to complete the form below.

Click here for form School approval must be received on or before May 2, 2025.

The letter may be scanned and uploaded via the link on the application page, emailed to gfletcher@leadershiplc.org, or mailed to Director of Youth Programs, Leadership Lake County, 8804 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44060.

Commitment

I understand the purpose of the Leadership Lake County Junior Leadership Program and that completion of this application does not ensure a candidate's acceptance into the class. If selected, I will devote the time required to fulfill all obligations to the program. By entering my name is the box below, I am approving this as an authorized signature for my application.

Signature

To accept this contract, type your name below

Thank you for your application!

If you have any questions, please contact Gina Fletcher at (440) 290-7933 or gfletcher@leadershiplc.org.

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2026 Junior Leadership Program Application

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