May 9-14, 2008

>> About LeaderShape
>> Who Should Attend
>> Apply to be a participant
>> Deadline
>> Cost
>> Travel Arrangements
>> Program Timeline
>> Housing Extension
>> Past Student Testimonials

Nominate Students for LeaderShape

About LeaderShape

The LeaderShape® Institute is an interactive, energizing, and unique experience that builds leadership skills no other program can match. Since 1986, approximately 15,000 participants have graduated from the program from all over the world. But be prepared! It is six days of non-stop self-discovery and learning from practical experiences that build your leadership concepts and abilities. It's go, go, go 12 hours a day... And you'll love it!

LeaderShape® participants discover and explore the values and principles that can effectively guide them in a variety of circumstances. Participants in the program begin a process that continues for the rest of your life. You'll see that leadership is a process - one that LeaderShape® defines as making a commitment to a vision , developing relationships to bring the vision into reality, and sustaining a high level of integrity.

Effective leadership produces results - exceptional improvements not only in companies and organizations, but also in clubs and communities. Wherever you are, there's a need for you to lead.

The LeaderShape® Institute develops participants to "lead with integrity." The curriculum incorporates current leadership issues in such a way as to meet the developmental needs of college students.

The curriculum focuses on "take-home application" through the vehicle of a comprehensive and powerful LeaderShape® Project. By working through the project, each participant has an opportunity to engage himself/herself in reflection, planning, one-on-one interactions, small group feedback, and large group learning.

The Institute environment resembles a laboratory more than a formal classroom. Students are encouraged to practice new skills, give and receive feedback from peers and faculty, and risk new behaviors in a safe, supportive atmosphere. Everyone at The LeaderShape® Institute is a teacher and everyone is a learner.

The participant's six-day experience is facilitated by faculty members who serve as role models and learning coaches. Just as important, however, are the peers and the Family Clusters, both of which provide support for learning.

Throughout the week, The LeaderShape® Institute emphasizes the fact that "You Can Make A Difference!" Working with exciting, but safe, opportunities for growth and understanding, participants take on bold challenges and understand that leaders are neither born nor made, but shaped - and that each has a significant role to plan his/her own shaping.

Who Should Attend?

Up to 60 students will be chosen to attend. Participants will represent a cross section of Washington University 's student body. Students who are seeking to have an impact on our campus or community and who are not graduating are eligible to apply.

Apply to be a participant

Apply online at LeaderShape

Deadline

February 22 - Applications due ($100 deposit must be submitted at this time).

Cost

There is a $100* cost to students who are selected to attend. A $100 participation fee is required for all applications to be considered complete. Upon confirmation of attendance, the $100 will be placed toward your participation cost. A $100 fee will be assessed to your student account if you cancel past the cancellation deadline. Engineering students may be eligible for a participation scholarship. Please inquire for more information.

* We do not want money to be a reason for not applying to the program. Therefore, if you are unable to apply to the program for financial reasons, please contact the Office of Student Activities to discuss your situation.

Travel arrangements

All students will travel to the LeaderShape® facility via a bus provided by LeaderShape®. If you miss the bus, you will not be able to attend and your deposit check will not be returned.

To learn more about LeaderShape, visit www.leadershape.org

Program Timeline

• January 1, 2008-February 22, 2008 Applications available
• February 22, 2008 at 5pm Applications due
• Applications require a $100* security deposit and will not be considered completed until that deposit is received in the Office of Student Activities. Engineering students: upon selection to the program, you are eligible to receive a participation scholarship. Should this be the case, your $100 will be returned.
• March 7, 2008 by 5pm Notification of selection decisions given to applicants
• March 21, 2008 at 5pm Participation confirmation due
• March 28, 2008 at 5:30pm LeaderShape participant orientation I (mandatory)
• April 18, 2008 at 5:30pm LeaderShape participant orientation II (mandatory)
• May 9-14, 2008 LeaderShape Institute 2008

Housing Extension

If you are a confirmed participant of LeaderShape, you will be able to stay in your Residential Life housing until the LeaderShape Institute ends. We will communicate with Residential Life that you are planning to attend, but you will also need to inform them of your plans.

Student testimonials from past programs

The self-discovery and personal reflection that I was able to do this week was especially meaningful. I will return to WashU witha better understanding of myself and how I can best work with others.

- Sara Schroeder, WashU Student

I've learned about core values in the community, the dynamics of power, and how to lead with integrity.

- Kelly O'Shea, WashU Student

Attending this program gave me the chance to see that even "impossible" visions can be accomplished by first setting smaller, more manageable goals first. The family cluster time was wonderful because it allowed everyone to get to know people on a more individual basis and opened conversation so that everyone could give their opinions freely.

- Sangita Sudharshan, WashU Student

I cannot believe how much I have grown as a person and how many genuine, healthy relationships I have developed in the span of a week. I've learned the true meaning of leadership.

- Min-Sun Son, WashU Student

I learned to challenge myself, my values, and explore the core pillars of who I am and the person I want to be as an individual, a family member, and a friend.

- Rivathi Ravi, WashU Student

I came to LeaderShape believing I was already a good leader, but I left LeaderShape feeling there is so much I can still learn.

- Chris Stephenson, WashU Student

I can tell each person who attended came away with some kind of insight or vision from the [LeaderShape] Institute.

- WashU Student

The week helped me realize the value of ALL people, not just some.

- WashU Engineering Student

LeaderShape has been an intense and fulfilling experience for me, and I feel it has really helped me focus my skills on a project that is both challenging and achievable.

- Richard Zernickow, WashU Student

This is one of the best learning environments ever. It gives me a great insight about leadership, a deep reflection of myself, and a good relationship with many of my fellow classmates and staff members.

-  Tuong-Thao Nguyen, WashU Student

It was an amazing experience that would be hard to duplicate anywhere else. The program has given me a new perspective on how to achieve what I desire.

- Graham, WashU Student

Leadershape has been a life-changing experience for me, and because of it, I feel I will be a much more capable team-member in life.

- Brad Moya, WashU Student

We've had fascinating discussions and have learned a lot about ourselves and being a leader.