High School Leaders Program (HSLP)

Based on our experience that young people can make a positive difference in their communities, Sorensen engages Virginia high school students in public policy challenges facing the Commonwealth and prepares them for civic leadership. The High School Leaders Program is designed to:

• Prepare future leaders for ethical and responsible citizenship and public service in the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond
• Connect Virginia’s youth leaders with peers from different regions of the state, backgrounds, and philosophies and with current leaders in Virginia's public, private, and non-profit sectors
• Energize our democratic republic system of government by promoting civic engagement among youth leaders
• Help students become effective advocates in their communities and schools through a curriculum that offers the practical skills and knowledge about history, politics, and governing. 

2026 Program Details

2026 Program

The 2026 High School Leaders Program will be held Saturday, July 11th through Saturday, July 25th. All students are housed at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville for the duration of the program. Aside from some field trips, the students will spend most of their time on the University’s Grounds. Students are required to attend the entire program.

A typical program day starts at 8am with breakfast and classes beginning promptly at 9am. Lectures, presentations, discussions, and workshops run throughout the day with multiple breaks and a lunch hour. Dinner takes place at the dining halls each evening around 5:30pm, after which students work on their culminating project or share free time with classmates. Program Managers, all of whom are college students who are alumni of high school leadership programs, serve as resident staff and are available to assist students at all times. 

We hold a graduation ceremony on the last day of the program. Family and friends and encouraged to attend Graduation.

Attendance

The two-week HSLP is held on the Grounds of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. 

Attendance by all participants during all HSLP classes, presentations, workshops, lectures, and field trips is very important to the success of the program -- there are no "free" days during the HSLP. If you cannot commit to participating in the entire program, you should wait and reapply in a future year.

HSLP Participants

Students will be staying in dormitory rooms on the Grounds of the University of Virginia. For 2026, we anticipate that participants will have the option of selecting either a shared room or an individual room. 

A typical HSLP cohort includes approximately 32 students who either: attend a public or private Virginia high school; are a Virginia resident attending high school in another state; or are home schooled in Virginia. Students must be at least 16 years old by the start of the HSLP and may be in their sophomore, junior, or senior years at the time they apply. Students come from across Virginia, representing diverse communities.

Successful HSLP alumni have included students interested in many different academic subjects and who have participated in many different kinds of extracurricular activities.

Successful applicants are generally interested in learning more about leadership and public service but need not have studied politics or been active in student government.

We seek cohorts that are diverse across a range of factors, including region, gender, race or ethnicity, and areas of interest in and outside the classroom.

We are also seeking applicants who want to be leaders in their communities and, hopefully, the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Curriculum

The HSLP curriculum is divided into three primary learning modules:

• The Informed Leader: Virginia Government and Politics—focuses on the basics of Virginia state and local government, who the players are, how government functions, and key issues facing Virginia.
• The Thoughtful Leader: Virginia Public Policy—explores how public policy is formed and debated in the Commonwealth. Students learn how to engage positively and effectively in policy discussions and learn how they can influence public policy. They will work on group policy projects and present them to public policy professionals.
• The Active Leader: The Tools of Modern Advocacy—gives students hands-on training and real-world skills to help them make their ideas a reality. They will learn how to pursue advocacy and civic engagement successfully, work with others who have different views, prepare a professional resume, communicate effectively, and work in teams to achieve results.

Meg Heubeck is the Faculty Instructor for HSLP. She also serves as the Director of Instruction at the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. In that role, Ms. Heubeck is responsible for providing educational materials for the Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI) and the Global Perspectives on Democracy (GPD) programs. This includes creating educational materials, managing simulations, and leading instruction in leadership and civic engagement for teachers, youth, and international visitors. Ms. Heubeck is a 2015 alumna of the Sorensen Institute's Political Leaders Program and has been the HSLP faculty instructor since 2020.

Ms. Heubeck's instruction is supplemented by presentations and conversations with leaders from Virginia's public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Sarah Campbell is the Program Director for the Sorensen Institute and the HSLP.

Program Fees & Aid

Program Fees

Program fees for the 2026 HSLP are $3,700 for a shared room and $4,100 for an individual room. The 2026 program is not offering graded college credits.

Financial Aid

Some financial aid is available for students who otherwise could not afford the program. Potential applicants are encouraged to apply regardless of financial considerations so that we have an opportunity to discuss options with students, parents, and potential donors. Visit our financial aid webpage for more information.

An applicant's need for financial aid will not affect their chances for acceptance into the HSLP. Requests for financial aid will be reviewed by Sorensen's parent organization, the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, after applicants have been accepted into the program.

How to Apply

Application Timeline

• January 12 – March 16: Early action applications accepted for the July 2026 HSLP (Applications received after March 16 will receive consideration if space remains available.)
• March – April: Interviews of applicants, selection of class participants
• Early May: Acceptance packets distributed
• May 29: Forms and payments due
• July 11-25: Class meets for two weeks at the University of Virginia

Application Deadlines

Applications Open:

January 12, 2026

Early Action Applications Close:

March 16, 2026

Supplemental materials submitted electronically by:

Four Business Days After Application Submitted

How Applicants Are Selected

The High School Leaders Program applicant pool is evaluated to create a highly qualified and diverse class. Applicants who are offered interviews will meet with interviewers via Zoom during March and April 2026. Decisions on admittance may be made on a rolling basis. For those on a waitlist, decisions will occur no later than mid-June. Students for the program are chosen through a careful selection process that includes the following considerations:

• complete application and essay
• academic record
• letter/s of recommendation (at least one, but no more than two)
• a resume or activity sheet (evaluated for content, not formatting)
• personal interview — qualified finalists will be contacted for an interview conducted by Sorensen staff, program alumni, and board members.

If you would like to refer someone to our High School Leaders Program, please complete our referral form. 

Application Requirements

• Completing on online application which includes:
  • short essay questions
  • background/contact information
• Submitting the following three documents: (Your application is not complete until we have received all three).
  • a copy of your high school transcript (we accept official or unofficial transcripts)
  • a resume or activity sheet
  • at least one (but no more than two letters) letter of recommendation
• Applicants being considered for the program will be asked to complete an online interview with board members, alumni, and staff.

Application Short Answer Questions

The HSLP online application includes a number of short-answer questions. Answers are a significant part of the selection process and very important to making admissions decisions. Please answer each question fully. The short-answer questions on the High School Leaders Program online application are as follows:

1. Why are you interested in attending the High School Leaders Program?
2. Why are you interested in government, politics and public policy in Virginia?
3. Please list any major commitments or events that might conflict with the program dates.
4. Is there anything else you would like us to take into consideration in evaluating your application and how the High School Leaders Program will benefit you? 

The following question is for informational purposes only and is not factored into the admissions decisions:

1. How did you learn about the High School Leaders Program?

Essay

Please write a (NO MORE THAN) 300 word essay on ONE of the following two topics:

OPTION 1: Briefly outline a public policy issue you care about and suggest ways to address the issue. What you would say to someone opposed to your ways of addressing the issue, and why they should consider your views favorably?

OPTION 2: Describe an accomplishment that is important to you and explain why it is important. Feel free to address such subtopics as: obstacles you needed to overcome; what you learned from the experience; what you would do differently if given the opportunity; how has the accomplishment affected your future goals; and how you would be different without having had this experience.

Although there is no single correct answer, your essay response should demonstrate individuality and is a significant part of the selection process.

Additional Application Requirements

You should also be prepared with the following information to successfully complete the HSLP application:

• Name
• Email address
• Cell phone number (if applicable)
• Home address and phone number
• Year in school
• Name of high school and its location (city, state)