10 Leadership Programs for High School Students in Pennsylvania
Leadership programs are a good choice for high schoolers looking to explore career paths without the cost or pressure of a full-time course. These programs offer learning in teamwork, problem-solving, and public speaking. Many are hosted by leading Pennsylvania colleges or organizations, providing access to university campuses, industry mentors, and peers.
If you're a Pennsylvania student interested in business, nonprofit work, or management, these programs offer tailored experiences to help you build skills. They also serve as stepping stones to internships and future college programs. We’ve narrowed down the top 10 leadership programs for high school students in Pennsylvania. These are ideal for students ready to take initiative and explore what being a leader means.
1. Brown Leadership Institute
Location: Brown University, RI / Virtual
Cost: $5,528
Application Deadline: May 9
Dates: Online: June 23 - July 18
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9 to 12, ages 14 to 18 by June 15
The Brown Leadership Institute is a summer program offering high school students the opportunity to explore leadership in the context of social change. You can choose between a two-week on-campus format or a four-week online option. Through discussions and collaborative work, you’ll explore issues like civic engagement, gender equity, and education access. The program emphasizes active listening, teamwork, and public speaking as part of a collaborative leadership model. You will build an Action Plan focused on applying insights to local or school-based challenges. Those who complete the program receive a digital certificate and a course performance report.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: The total cost to attend the 4-week program is $2900. There is need-based financial aid.
Program Dates: Individual Program - Flexible start dates | Summer II Group Program - August 4- August 24
Application Deadline: Early Summer II Deadline: May 30; Final Summer II Deadline: June 23
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students (grades 9-12)
The Young Founder’s Lab is a startup accelerator for high school students, founded by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this immersive program, you'll build a real, revenue-generating startup that solves a real-world problem. You’ll receive mentorship from professionals at top companies like Google, Microsoft, and X, and participate in workshops, case studies, and interactive classes on business fundamentals. Beyond launching your startup, you'll gain hands-on experience in ideation, strategy, and execution—skills essential for any aspiring entrepreneur. It’s a unique chance to explore business theory and practice while still in high school. You can learn more and view the program brochure here. You can access the application link here!
3. American Legion Boys State & Boys Nation
Location: Multiple locations. Click here to know more.
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the location you choose
Dates: Varies depending on the location; Boys Nation: July 18 to July 26
Eligibility: High school students
American Legion Boys State is a one-week program focused on civic education through hands-on learning. You’ll build a mock state government for one week, running for office, writing legislation, and debating policy. You’ll participate in legislative sessions, mock trials, and meet government officials. Select participants may be invited to attend Boys Nation in Washington, D.C., to explore federal government operations.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year. Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
5. The University of Pennsylvania – Leadership in the Business World
Location: Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, PA
Cost: $11,399 + $100 application fee
Application Deadline: April 2
Dates: June 8 - June 28 | June 29 - July 19 | July 20 - August 9
Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in grade 11 with a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA
Leadership in the Business World (LBW) at the University of Pennsylvania is a pre-college summer program introducing high school students to Wharton’s business curriculum. You’ll attend lectures from Wharton faculty and guest speakers, focusing on leadership, teamwork, and core business concepts. The program includes Wharton Interactive’s digital simulations and case competitions where you’ll apply what you’ve learned. You’ll also research global enterprises and interact with industry leaders in finance, real estate, entertainment, and more. LBW blends theory with learning by helping you build skills in business analysis, strategic decision-making, and public speaking through simulations, group projects, and case studies.
6. The Foundation for Free Enterprise Education, Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW)
Location: Lycoming College or Pennsylvania College of Technology, depending on the program
Cost: $295 registration fee
Application Deadline: Applications will be considered on a rolling basis
Dates: Week 1: June 29 - July | Week 2: July 6-11 | Week 3: July 20-25 | Week 4: July 27 - August 1
Eligibility: Students who have completed their sophomore or junior year by June of the year they wish to attend PFEW and be recommended by a high school representative; Priority is given to Pennsylvania students
Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW) is a summer program that introduces you to the realities of business leadership. You’ll work in teams of 16 with a business mentor to manage a simulated manufacturing company. Using a college-level business simulation, you and your team will take over an underperforming manufacturing company and make strategic decisions across 12 simulated business quarters—including pricing, marketing, production, R&D, and finance—as you compete with other teams to improve performance and achieve the highest Return on Equity. Throughout the week, expert speakers cover topics like ethics, leadership, and entrepreneurship. The program will help you understand the free enterprise system and develop business skills.
7. Sports Business Academy - Wharton Global Youth Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,799 + $100 application fee
Application Deadline: April 2 (Priority deadline) | May 1 (Final deadline)
Dates: July 7 - July 25
Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in grades 10-11
The Sports Business Academy at Wharton introduces you to the business side of the sports world through lectures, guest speakers, and collaborative projects. You’ll explore core business concepts like marketing, management, negotiation, and sports law as they apply to intercollegiate, Olympic, and professional sports. Guest speakers may include team executives, sports agents, broadcasters, and brand marketers. Virtual site visits give you access to sports business environments. You’ll also work in teams to create a business plan for a new sports-focused venture. The program helps you understand how leadership and strategy shape the global sports industry.
8. Creating Opportunities for Young Hospitality Leaders (COYHL)
Location: Penn State School of Hospitality Management, PA
Cost: $1,750
Application Deadline: April 4
Dates: July 13 – July 18
Eligibility: Rising high school junior or senior during the summer program offered; Be in good academic standing in high school; Demonstrate an interest in or aptitude for hospitality management as demonstrated by jobs you work, volunteering, or by the observation of a teacher, coach, or employer
The COYHL program at Penn State offers a six-day residential experience that introduces high school students to hospitality careers. You’ll stay in dorms, attend daily faculty-led sessions, and explore lodging and restaurant operations in person. The curriculum covers key industry topics from service trends to entrepreneurship, including communication, ownership models, and guest engagement. Activities include simulations, site visits, and industry leaders workshops. The program helps you understand college life and the career opportunities in hospitality management. Participants are recognized with a completion certificate and digital badge from Penn State.
9. FTE Economics For Leaders at UPenn
Location: University of Pennsylvania, PA
Cost: $2,600 + $35 processing fee
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Dates: July 21 - July 27
Eligibility: Students who are currently in their sophomore or junior year of high school
Economics for Leaders at UPenn gives you the skills to connect economic reasoning with leadership practice. Over a week, you’ll study core topics such as opportunity cost, labor markets, incentives, and property rights. Classroom discussions focus on public policy issues, supported by simulations that reinforce theoretical concepts. You’ll also explore leadership development through the Leadership Pyramid Matrix, which emphasizes personal, relational, and contextual leadership. The program helps you strengthen team collaboration skills while learning to apply economics to complex social problems. It’s designed to prepare you for future leadership challenges.
10. Wharton Global Youth Program - Essentials of Leadership
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,099 + $100 application fee
Application Deadline: April 2 (Priority deadline) | May 1 (Final deadline)
Dates: June 16 - June 27 | July 7 - July 18
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in grades 9-12 with demonstrated leadership ability
The Wharton Global Youth Program’s Essentials of Leadership is an academic program designed to develop leadership capacity in high school students. Daily, you’ll participate in two hours of live lectures covering leadership frameworks, emotional intelligence, and team communication. A daily one-hour recitation led by teaching assistants focuses on refining core business skills. The program includes collaborative simulations and group projects to apply leadership theory. You’ll engage with peers and instructors in discussions that promote strategic thinking and effective teamwork. This program is structured to give you experience in solving business problems.
If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
Veritas AI founded and led by Harvard graduate students, offers programs designed for high school students interested in artificial intelligence. The AI Scholars program is a 10-session boot camp that introduces beginners to core concepts in AI, machine learning, and data science, while also offering opportunities to work on real-world projects. For students with prior experience, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase provides a chance to work one-on-one with mentors from top universities on an individual project. This program also includes access to Veritas AI’s publication support team, which helps students submit their work to high school research journals. You can explore examples of previous projects as well.
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