Leadership Institute
A hands-on leadership experience where high school students discover their strengths and create meaningful change in their community
Looking to make a difference in your school community and future?
The House of Shine Leadership Institute is a unique opportunity for incoming high school sophomores, juniors and seniors to explore their strengths, develop leadership skills, and work alongside peers who want to make an impact.
Over the course of the school year, participants engage in workshops, mentorship, and hands-on project planning while helping bring House of Shine’s annual Change Bowl event to life. Students gain real leadership experience, build confidence, and develop skills that will serve them in college, careers, and their communities.
What You’ll Experience in Leadership Institute
Throughout the program, students participate in experiences designed to help them better understand themselves, practice leadership in real-world settings, and build skills that will support them long after high school.
These three focus areas shape the Leadership Institute experience and provide opportunities for students to grow both personally and as leaders.
Discover Your Leadership Style
Understand your strengths and how you can make an impact!
Leadership starts with understanding yourself. Throughout the program, students explore their strengths, interests, and values using the House of Shine framework. These experiences help students identify the unique qualities they bring to a team and how they can use those qualities to lead with purpose.
Through guided workshops and activities, students develop communication skills, confidence, and a deeper sense of self-awareness. This foundation helps participants become thoughtful leaders who understand how to collaborate, listen, and support others.
By the end of the program, students walk away with a stronger sense of identity and the tools to lead in school, college, and their future careers.
Real-World Leadership Experience
Learn through hands-on and supported experience
Leadership Institute offers an experiential learning process to leadership lessons and skills. Participants work together throughout the year to help plan and support House of Shine’s annual Change Bowl event, gaining real experience in project planning, teamwork, and problem solving.
Students learn how to organize ideas, collaborate with peers, and contribute to a project that creates real impact in the community. This hands-on experience helps students understand how leadership works in the real world.
Working alongside mentors and program leaders, participants gain insight into what it takes to turn ideas into action.
Grow Transferrable Skills
Strengthen your resume while making a difference
The Leadership Institute helps students develop skills that will benefit them long after high school. Participants gain experience in leadership, collaboration, communication, and project management that are transferrable to their post-graduation goals.
Additonally, students earn volunteer hours while participating in meaningful service and community impact. The program provides opportunities to build relationships with mentors and peers who share a passion for learning and leadership.
For many students, the Leadership Institute becomes a defining experience that shapes their confidence and direction moving forward.
Discover Your Leadership Style
Understand your strengths and how you can make an impact!
Leadership starts with understanding yourself. Throughout the program, students explore their strengths, interests, and values using the House of Shine framework. These experiences help students identify the unique qualities they bring to a team and how they can use those qualities to lead with purpose.
Through guided workshops and activities, students develop communication skills, confidence, and a deeper sense of self-awareness. This foundation helps participants become thoughtful leaders who understand how to collaborate, listen, and support others.
By the end of the program, students walk away with a stronger sense of identity and the tools to lead in school, college, and their future careers.
Real-World Leadership Experience
Learn through hands-on and supported experience
Leadership Institute offers an experiential learning process to leadership lessons and skills. Participants work together throughout the year to help plan and support House of Shine’s annual Change Bowl event, gaining real experience in project planning, teamwork, and problem solving.
Students learn how to organize ideas, collaborate with peers, and contribute to a project that creates real impact in the community. This hands-on experience helps students understand how leadership works in the real world.
Working alongside mentors and program leaders, participants gain insight into what it takes to turn ideas into action.
Grow Transferrable Skills
Strengthen your resume while making a difference
The Leadership Institute helps students develop skills that will benefit them long after high school. Participants gain experience in leadership, collaboration, communication, and project management that are transferrable to their post-graduation goals.
Additonally, students earn volunteer hours while participating in meaningful service and community impact. The program provides opportunities to build relationships with mentors and peers who share a passion for learning and leadership.
For many students, the Leadership Institute becomes a defining experience that shapes their confidence and direction moving forward.
See Leadership Institute in Action!
Get a glimpse of what the Leadership Institute experience is all about. Hear from students and see how participants collaborate, grow as leaders, and work together to create meaningful impact in their community.
Time Commitment
A leadership experience designed to fit into the rhythm of high school life
The Leadership Institute runs throughout the school year, August through May, providing students with a consistent opportunity to grow, learn, and build leadership skills alongside their academic commitments.
Participants typically commit about 8–10 hours per month, including bi-weekly meetings, collaborative planning sessions, and participation in key House of Shine events such as Change Bowl, Peace. Love. Shine., and the Holiday Artisan Market. These experiences allow students to build strong relationships, develop leadership skills, and contribute to meaningful projects that impact the community.
Students are expected to attend meetings regularly, actively engage in discussions and activities, and collaborate respectfully with their peers as they work together throughout the program.
Application Timeline
How to Apply to the Leadership Institute
Applications for the Leadership Institute become available in mid- to -late April at House of Shine
Important Dates for the 2026-27 Application Cycle:
- Applications available: Saturday, April 11th at 9 AM
- Application deadline: Saturday, May 30th at 3 PM
- Interviews for Invited Applicants: June 8th to 12th, 2026
Applications are physical copy only and can be picked-up and submitted at House of Shine, anytime between avaiability and deadline.
Leadership Institute FAQs
A few of the most common questions students and families ask about the Leadership Institute
The Leadership Institute runs from August through May and begins with a three-day, two-night retreat that helps students build community and set the foundation for the year ahead. During the retreat, participants get to know one another, explore leadership concepts, and begin the journey of discovering their strengths and working as a team.
After the retreat, students typically commit about 8–10 hours per month, which includes bi-weekly evening meetings, collaborative planning sessions, and participation in key House of Shine events including: the Change Bowl, Peace. Love. Shine. & the Holiday Artisan Market.
The program is designed to be meaningful alongside student’s commitments to school, extracurricular activities, and personal commitments.
The Leadership Institute is designed for high school students in grades 10–12 who are curious about leadership, personal growth, and making a difference in their community. Students from any school and setting, including charter and home-school students, are welcome and encouraged to apply!
We’re looking for students who are open to learning, willing to participate, and excited about working alongside others.
Nope! Many students join the Leadership Institute because they want to discover and develop their leadership skills, and we are eager to join alongside youth changemakers in their journies.
What matters most is curiosity, willingness to participate, and a desire to grow. Leadership can take many forms, and this program helps students explore what leadership looks like for them!