WCS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

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SUMMARY AND MISSION

The WCS Leadership Academy invests in students by providing leadership training to become the best version of themselves and to lead lives of impact.

We provide training from community leaders who are experts in their fields and good role models for our students. Shadowships for senior students provide mentorships to explore their interests, and gain real-word experience.

We believe graduating Spartans should have an understanding of who they are, and how their skills and service may transform our communities and our world. As we build students with an aim to lead and make a difference, we believe we are positively affecting the culture for now and in the future.

 

WHAT IS THE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY?

The WCS Leadership Academy is a part of the Institute for Community Impact. Through the Wichita Collegiate Leadership Academy, students engage with leaders in the community's nonprofit, civic and business sectors. Industry leaders share essential leadership traits, career details, and practical ways for students to grow in and apply their own leadership skills. We are thankful for our speakers who are eager to develop student passions to create meaningful change in Wichita and beyond. 

Students attend Sunday Sessions and Open Lunch Sessions. Each Sunday Session is 1.5 hours long and may have multiple components including a speaker, an interactive moment for strategic team building, and other resources related to the topic. Open lunch sessions are shorter opportunities to learn from local leaders.

Book studies on various topics of leadership are another way for students to earn credit towards their leadership development.

Students successfully completing all program requirements during junior and seniors years will graduate from Wichita Collegiate School with Distinction.

LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
TEAM MEMBERS

JoyAnn Brake
Director of the Leadership Academy

Amy Cunningham
Shadowship and Program Coordinator

David LeVan
Shadowship and Program Coordinator

Hans Widener
Shadowship and Program Coordinator

Julianne London
Student Resource Manager

JUNIOR TRACK OF STUDY

During 2024-2025, Juniors in Leadership Academy will:

  • Participate in 20 hours of general leadership education

  • Complete reflection and follow-up questions, to ensure application and understanding after each session

  • Explore general Leadership principles and practices

  • Deliver a final presentation that summarizes their understanding and personal leadership growth

SENIOR TRACK OF STUDY

During 2024-2025, Seniors in Leadership Academy will:

  • Participate in 30 hours of general leadership education.

  • Complete reflection and follow-up questions, to ensure application and understanding after each session

  • Identify areas of career interest and partner with local mentors for shadowships (job-shadowing internships).

  • Deliver a final presentation that summarizes their shadowship experience and personal leadership growth.

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

PROGRAM KICK-OFF SESSION, FOR ALL MEMBERS

September 15, 2024- Leading a City at the Intersection of Business, Nonprofits and Civics
Mayor Lily Wu will share her story as mayor of Wichita, working with various sectors, and leadership traits that help her be effective.

SUNDAY SESSIONS 1:30 to 3pm at WCS Upper School

Sunday, September 15: Leading a City - Opening session with Mayor Wu

Sunday, October 13 from 2 to 4pm: Ethical Dilemma Mock Trial with Dana Hensley at City Courthouse (includes Alum Attorneys Matt Maloney and Kaylea Knappenberger; Judge Tyler Roush)

Sunday, November 3:   Molly Gordon, Assistant US Attorney

Sunday, January 12: Tom Gentile, President and CEO of Hexcel

Sunday, February 16:   Leading a Nonprofit to Change Lives - Jennifer White, Executive Director of ICT SOS (includes volunteer project)

Sunday, March 2:   Landing the Unicorn Business - Entrepreneur Kevin Turpin

Sunday, April 6: Stand Together: Bridging Business, Civics and Nonprofits to Change our World - Closing Session with Askia Ahmad

Sunday, April 13: Shadowship Reception


OPEN LUNCH SESSIONS: Open Lunch on O Day is from 12:16 to 1:07; on Y day it is from 12:19-1:13.

Wednesday, September 4: Welcome to the Program - for interested juniors and committed seniors

Thursday, September 26: Being the best version of a Leadership Academy participant - Gaby White and Leadership Academy Team

Thursday, October 10: Building Good Habits - Jillian King, WCS Upper School Teacher

Thursday, October 24: Emotional Intelligence - Hans Widener, WCS Upper School Teacher

Thursday, November 7: From Freddy's to Beyond: Building a Successful Business- Scott Redler, Entrepreneur and Franchisee

Wednesday, November 20: How to Have a Difficult Conversation - Dr. Audrey Hane, Professor of Communication at Newman University

Friday, January 24: Sweat Equity to Launch a Successful Business - Hunter Mitchem, owner of SweatHouz

Date TBD: Leadership Emprise - Matt Michaelis, President and CEO of Emprise Bank

Tuesday, February 4: How to be a L.E.A.D.E.R. - Colonel Johari J. Hemphill, Commander of 22nd Mission Support Group, McConnell Air Force Base

Wednesday, February 19: Adversity and Overcoming Obstacles- Hans Widener

Tuesday, March 4: Medical Ethics and the Art of Collaborative Negotiation - Dr. Ann Householder

Wednesday, March 26: Decisions that Define Your Amazing Life Ahead: Unleashing the Power of Choices and Mindsets - Dean Larisa Genin, WSU School of Business

Wednesday, April 2: Cybersecurity from a National Security Perspective - David Carpenter, Director, Midwest Cybersecurity Center at FirePoint

Interested students can contact JoyAnn Brake at jbrake@wcsks.com