National Student Leadership Conference

Career-Focused Leadership Development Programs for High-Achieving High School Students
Washington, D.C.; College Park, Maryland; Berkeley, California; New York, New York; and Europe


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For More Information, Contact
National Student Leadership Conference
414 North Orleans Street, Suite LL8
Chicago, Illinois 60610-1087
312-322-9999
800-994-NSLC (6752) (toll-free)
Fax: 312-765-0081
http://www.nslcleaders.org

Type of Program: Students develop key leadership skills while exploring careers in law, diplomacy, politics, medicine, engineering, business, national security, forensic science, journalism, community service, or the arts
Participants: Coeducational, ages 14–18
Enrollment: Limited to approximately 100 to 150 per program session
Program Dates: Five- and ten-day programs in the winter/spring, fall, and summer
Head of Program: Rick Duffy, J.D., Executive Director

Location

National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) programs take place at many of the nation’s outstanding educational institutions, including UC-Berkley in California, Fordham University and New York University (NYU) in New York, the University of Maryland in College Park, and American University (AU) in Washington, D.C. Study-abroad programs travel to France and Switzerland.

Background and Philosophy

Since 1989, the National Student Leadership Conference has been preparing high-achieving high school students for leadership roles in high school and college and beyond. In these unique and exciting programs, young leaders from across the country and around the world do more than just explore careers—they live them. Participants learn by doing as they immerse themselves in the area they are studying and develop their abilities to think, analyze, and effectively make decisions. Because the NSLC believes that students can learn and have fun at the same time, these programs are highlighted with interesting activities, exciting field trips, and enriching social experiences.

Program Offerings

Programs are offered year-round and emphasize leadership in different academic areas. Students learn communication skills and negotiation strategies through interactive workshops taught by a distinguished faculty. Guest speaker programs allow students to meet and learn from national and world leaders. Students also gain the added advantage of experiencing college life while living on university campuses.
Law & Advocacy provides students with the opportunity to study and experience the American judicial system through a comprehensive mock trial simulation.
International Diplomacy immerses participants in the study of world politics and international relations. In a United Nations (UN) simulation, students serve as delegates to the UN and debate controversial world issues.
Medicine & Health Care offers students the opportunity to explore the world of medicine through discussions with practicing physicians and leading medical researchers, site visits, and simulations designed to examine some of the most controversial issues facing the medical community. Special partnerships with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the J. David Gladstone Institutes enable students to experience the medical profession firsthand.
Mastering Leadership lets students experience the excitement of the nation’s capital while studying the principles and qualities of the world’s greatest leaders. Special workshops and simulations help students unlock their leadership potential. Students have the opportunity to create and run a community service project in Washington, D.C.
Entrepreneurship & Business presents students with a firsthand look at the challenges of modern business and the opportunity to learn from prominent business leaders. Working in management teams, students make tough decisions to build a growing business.
U.S. Policy & Politics gives students the opportunity to visit the halls of government, discuss current issues with leading political advisers and politicians, and return home with a real-world understanding of the roles played by the public, press, and leaders of the U.S. A presidential campaign simulation and mock senate are highlights of the program.
Engineering immerses students in the ever-changing world of aircraft, robotics, bridges, and biological and chemical engineering. The NSLC’s partnerships with the University of Maryland and the University of California Schools of Engineering make this conference an extraordinary opportunity that puts the student on the path to becoming a leading engineer.
Forensic Science brings students into the world of crime-scene investigation (CSI). With their CSI team, students learn and practice the techniques of leading forensic scientists during a crime-scene analysis simulation. Students meet with leaders in the fields of medicine, law enforcement, and law while touring such facilities as crime labs and the FBI.
International Business gives students the opportunity to learn about the global economic institutions and multinational corporations that connect the world. During special briefings at the United Nations, the World Bank, and a variety of multinational corporations, as well as exciting hands-on simulations, students discover the complexities of international trade and business.
Journalism & Mass Communication enables students to learn about careers in the communication field during hands-on experiences with the American University School of Communication. Students learn from AU faculty members as they try their hand at broadcasting, scriptwriting, photography, filmmaking, or print journalism.
Study Abroad: Globalization & International Business gives students the opportunity to travel to Geneva, Switzerland, to learn about the global economic institutions that connect the world. Through special briefings at the World Trade Organization, the International Olympic Committee, the United Nations, and a variety of multinational corporations, students discover the complexities of international trade.
Sports & Entertainment Management enables students to experience the challenges of working on the business side of sports and entertainment. From managing an athlete to running a music festival or sports tournament, students learn the skills needed to succeed as a sports or entertainment management professional. Visits and speakers at venues such as Madison Square Garden, the Meadowlands, and the National Tennis Center give students an opportunity to learn from professionals in the field.
At the end of each program, students receive a Certificate of Achievement and an official program transcript verifying their participation. The NSLC is sponsored and endorsed by American University. High school students participating in the NSLC have the option of earning college credit through American University, which is transferable to most institutions. This credit-bearing curriculum, which links theory to practice, recognizes the increasing importance of global approaches to leadership and to preparing leaders for the complexities and challenges of an increasingly interconnected world.

Enrollment

The NSLC is open to students who have demonstrated academic excellence (B average or better), leadership potential, and a commitment to improving themselves and the world in which they live. Students must either be nominated by their school or make a merit application to NSLC. Last year, young men and women from throughout the United States and more than forty different countries participated in NSLC programs.

Daily Schedule

7:30–8:30
9:00–10:15
10:30–12:00
12:00–1:30
1:30–3:30
3:30–5:00
5:00–6:30
7:00–9:00

9:00–11:00

Breakfast
Workshop
Lecture/discussion
Lunch
Field trip
Leadership exercise
Dinner
Simulations: Mock trial/United Nations/Leadership
in Action (depending on program)
Social activity

Extra Opportunities and Activities

Students in California enjoy educational and recreational trips to the San Francisco Bay Area, including visits to a crime lab, the J. David Gladstone Institutes for Medical Research, Pier 39, and Ghirardelli Square. In Washington, D.C., special tours, field trips, and briefings take students “inside” Washington, including foreign embassies, Capitol Hill, the Supreme Court, the Pentagon, the Smithsonian Institution, the FBI, the World Health Organization, the National Institutes of Health, and much more. Students in New York discover the financial, art, and diplomatic communities through special trips, including the United Nations, the Federal Reserve, the Harlem Arts Community, and much more.

Facilities

Students reside 2 to 4 to a room in university dormitories or hotel conference facilities. Experienced residential advisers and counselors live in halls with the students and are always available to answer questions and solve problems. All on-campus meals are taken in university or hotel dining rooms.

Staff

Teaching faculty members include law professors, deans, judges, Ph.D.'s, graduate school professors, and respected academic scholars. Faculty and staff members reside on-site. The faculty/staff–student ratio is approximately 1:12.

Medical Care

Students have access to 24-hour medical care at a nearby hospital. Students must have medical insurance to enroll and are responsible for medical expenses incurred during the program.

Costs

Tuition is $2295 for ten-day programs and $1395 for six-day programs. This includes housing, all on-campus meals, course materials, miscellaneous academic expenses, and activities. It also includes off-campus field trips, chartered bus transportation for educational tours, counselor supervision, and 24-hour access to medical treatment.

Financial Aid

Need- and merit-based partial scholarships and financial assistance are available to qualified students. A scholarship application must be requested from the NSLC office. Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis, so students should apply early.

Transportation

Students are responsible for transportation to and from the programs. Airport pick-up and drop-off can be arranged through the NSLC for a $35 fee (each way).

Application Timetable

Admission to NSLC is highly selective and the programs fill quickly, so early application is encouraged. Students nominated by their schools receive an invitation to apply for preapproved admission, based on space availability. A student making a merit application must complete an enrollment application and submit it with an educator recommendation. A deposit of $250 is required with all applications. Admission is granted on the basis of academic merit, extracurricular accomplishment, and leadership potential.