St. Thomas University’s Miniaci LEAD Now Summer Institute and the Fernandez Fellowship Program are dedicated to ensuring that talented high school students have the opportunity to develop their leadership skills with the goal of succeeding in college and becoming effective professional and community leaders. The Miniaci LEAD Now Summer Institute is a two-year, six-week summer program for qualified high school students. The Institute provides six college credits in communication arts, offers weekly training in 21st Century leadership, enrolls students in college preparatory courses in mathematics and English, and includes experience in community service.
This year’s Miniaci LEAD Now Summer Institute took place June 19, 2015, through August 7, 2015, and included a diverse group of 16 students representing a variety of local public and private high schools. Students were introduced to successful and effective communication processes by faculty from the School of Arts and Education, and received life skills training in etiquette and communications, such as public speaking and creative writing. This summer, students were also provided Latin dance classes and art lessons.
Thirteen high school seniors who graduated from the Miniaci LEAD Now Summer Institute are enrolled at St. Thomas University and will become Bobcats this fall. The Fernandez Fellowship Program provides graduates of the Miniaci LEAD Now program an annually renewable scholarship towards tuition for any of the undergraduate academic programs offered at St. Thomas University and provides a continued professional and peer mentorship program for these scholars.
