About the Frances Hesselbein Student Leadership Program
The Frances Hesselbein Student Leadership Program (FHSLP) was launched in 2007 by the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC), under the guidance of Frances Hesselbein, to engage exemplary high school Student 2 Student (S2S) Core Leaders in leadership development, civic engagement, and community involvement opportunities to prepare youth for the future world.
The FHSLP is hosted twice a year and eligible high school sophomores and juniors apply to attend through a competitive process that includes an online application, S2S advisor recommendation, and interview. The one-week training program is offered at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York (Fall Session), and the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado (Spring Session) and aligns with the S2S Mission and Core Values. Each FHSLP experience is unique and developed in collaboration between the service academy teams and MCEC staff. The program is free to student participants through generous funding and includes the cost of transportation, lodging, food, programming, and activities.
The program uses evidence-informed practices to address character development, leadership principles, effective communication, team building, goal setting, social connectedness, and service to others. Students learn practical applications of a wide range of skills that can be incorporated into their roles within their S2S Programs and applied to their lives as they enter adulthood. The program aligns with the Positive Youth Development framework incorporating protective factors that support student well-being and resiliency.
The application cycles open in August for the USMA FHSLP and in November for the USAFA FHSLP.
I was able to build my leadership skills during the week while making relationships that will last a lifetime. It was a truly transformative event that I will always remember and be extremely grateful for.
Jacob, Madison, AL
- A 90-minute campus tour gave our students an insider-view of daily campus life at USAFA.
- Sophia experiences the flight simulator, part of USAFA’s war games class.
- Deepak experiences the flight simulator, part of USAFA’s war games class.
- Hayden, Storm, and Delaney during an hour-long lecture session introducing them to the many campus resources in place to help support student learning.
- Syreeta and Kayleigh smiling for a photo during team building exercises and discussions about managing and communicating emotions.
- The students enjoy the beautiful Colorado Springs landscape.
- Syreeta, Kayleigh, and Delaney celebrate successful communication during the blindfolded bowling event.
- Emily surprised during the campus tour.
- Briana, Emily and Mya at the opening session for the USAFA Character and Leadership Symposium, hearing about the power of relationships and purpose.
- Hayden, Kayleigh, Briana and Storm, ready for rock climbing.
- Mya, eager to tackle the rock climbing wall.