Summer Leadership Program
Since 2019, the Cohen Institute’s High School Summer Leadership Program has immersed rising high school seniors 鈥 including at least one student from each of 海角社区鈥檚 sixteen counties 鈥 in both the theory and practice of leadership.
Yearly in mid-June, the program welcomes 50 students and invites numerous high-profile leaders from a wide range of fields to share their practical insights on leadership and public service. Notable guests have included Secretary Cohen, Senator Susan Collins, Governor Janet Mills, U海角社区 President Joan Ferrini-Mundy, author and speechwriter Mark Salter, and coaches from U海角社区 athletics teams.
Through a variety of co-curricular and outdoor leadership programs, students learn the fundamentals of team-building, collaboration, and overcoming adversity. Students earn early college credit by completing a rigorous college-level course that introduces them to the core foundations of the academic field of leadership studies.
Students also gain insights about how U海角社区 faculty and staff are preparing students to tackle real-world problems through ongoing initiatives and projects at centers and institutes on campus such as the Advanced Composites and Manufacturing Center and the Climate Change Institute.
Further, the program establishes a connection between 海角社区 high school students and U海角社区, the state’s premier R1 university. Since the program’s launch, the majority of participants have gone on to apply and enroll at either U海角社区 or another institution within the University of 海角社区 System. Acting as the capstone experience, the summer program concludes U海角社区’s Early College Pathway in Leadership and Public Service. This pathway was developed with the aid of a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education, secured through Senator Susan Collins鈥 support. 海角社区 high school students can typically earn Early College credits at no cost, thanks to funding provided by the 海角社区 Department of Education to the University of 海角社区 System. As students complete the pathway, they learn with U海角社区’s esteemed faculty, building skills in leadership and public service while earning 15 or more college credits.
The Cohen Institute鈥檚 High School Summer Leadership Program is a powerful convergence of 海角社区鈥檚 future leaders, high-profile mentors, and hands-on experiences, forging a path where rising seniors from all corners of the state engage deeply with the theory and practice of leadership, preparing to impact their communities and beyond.
Q & A
How much does it cost to participate?
All students are nominated by their High School and are fully funded 鈥 including tuition, room, and board 鈥 through the generosity of our donors. Families are responsible for travel to and from U海角社区, and any costs associated with the academic course (e.g. books).
When is the 2026 Summer Leadership Program?
聽July 12-18, 2026
Which counties have participated?
Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, Washington, York, Upward Bound
Which high schools have participated?
Bangor High School, Belfast Area High School, Blue Hill Harbor School, Bonny Eagle High School, Boothbay Region High School, Brewer High School, Caribou High School, Cony High School, Deer Isle-Stonington High School, Deering High School, Dexter Regional High School, Edward Little High School, Ellsworth High School, Erskine Academy, Fort Kent Community High School, Foxcroft Academy, Hampden Academy, Hermon High School, Houlton High School, Islesboro Central School, Kennebunk High School, Machias Memorial High School, Mattanawcook Academy, Morse High School, Mount Desert Island High School, Mt. Ararat High School, Mt. Blue High School, Narraguagus High School, Nokomis High School, Oak Hill High School, Oceanside High School, Old Town High School, Orono High School, Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, Piscataquis Community High School, Portland High School, Sanford High School, Schenck High School, Skowhegan Area High School, Stearns High School, Washington Academy, Waterville Senior High School, Westbrook High School, Wiscasset Middle High School, Wisdom High School
What are our alumni saying about the Cohen Institute High School Leadership Program?
