The Civic Leadership Academy
Each summer, the Lou Frey Institute hosts the best and the brightest of Florida's civic-minded high school students at the University of Central Florida. For two intensive weeks, the Civic Leadership Academy examines Florida politics, policy and government. High school students (including graduating seniors) who are over the age of 16 may apply to attend.
The program features a Florida-focused, multidisciplinary curriculum with three main goals:
- to prepare future leaders for ethical and responsible citizenship and public service;
- to connect youth leaders from different backgrounds and philosophies with each other and current public leaders; and
- to energize our democratic system of government by promoting civic engagement in youth leaders.
Participants engage in substantive debate about the public challenges facing the state and interact with Florida's current public, private, and nonprofit sector leaders.
The 2009 program will be held Saturday July 11th to Saturday, July 25th at the University of Central Florida.
How Do Students Benefit?
Participants learn advanced civics of state and local governments and party systems, and explore public policy challenges through an open and engaging learning environment. A wide variety of ideas and philosophies are explored and debated with an emphasis on ethics and responsible leadership. In addition to structured curriculum elements taught by top-caliber faculty, guest speakers give students real-life examples of political leadership.
The curriculum was developed in collaboration with the University of Virginia's Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership. The Sorensen Program has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for Teaching as one of the strongest and most innovative civic education initiatives in the nation. Three key objectives of the Civic Leadership Academy are:
- To prepare future leaders for ethical and responsible citizenship and public service;
- To connect youth leaders from different backgrounds and philosophies with each other and current public leaders;
- To energize our democratic system of government by promoting civic engagement in youth leaders.
Students who complete the program receive three hours of graded dual enrollment college credit.
How Does Florida Benefit?
By attracting bright and committed students with a wide variety of political philosophies and academic backgrounds and from all corners of the state, the Civic Leadership Academy deliver to the community well-informed, capable and ethical young leaders. Graduates of the Academy will go on to a variety of business, educational and political environments -- they are critical thinkers who understand the personal responsibilities that make strong leaders.
To download an application, click here.
For additional information, contact Mr. John Phillips, Program Manager, at (407) 823-0665 or jhphilli@mail.ucf.edu.