
Youth Leadership Academy
Sophomores and Juniors! Looking to challenge yourself and stand out from the crowd? Empower your student story with life changing experiences and opportunities through the Montana GEAR UP Youth Leadership Academy (YLA). Gain unparalleled access to GEAR UP state leadership. Voice your ideas and opinions for how to better GEAR UP. Gain volunteer and leadership experience to put on college applications or job resumes. Have a chance to travel to Washington D.C. or San Francisco. Everything has been paid for by your Montana GEAR UP program! Interested? Keep reading!
How Can I get Involved?
Recruitment
- March 14 - May 1: YLA recruitment window. 2 student applicants will be selected from each GEAR UP school.
- May 1: Deadline to submit student applications GEAR UP by
- Email applications to mtgearup@montana.edu or;
- Mail to: 560 N. Park Ave. Helena, MT 59602 or;
- Submit to your GEAR UP coordinator at your school and they will get it to us!
- May 16: Students notified of selection to the Academy.
- June 10: Deadline to complete enrollment forms for each student and family.
Application & Enrollment Forms
The following forms must be completed by each student to participate in the program.
Need to Know
Connect to Our Learning Community
2021 - 2022 YLA
Questions? mtgearup@montana.edu
Program Expectations
The YLA is a unique opportunity for GEAR UP (GU) students to learn and explore leadership concepts and how to apply them at school in a tangible way through service learning projects.YLA students will...
- form relationships with other GEAR UP students from across the state.
- travel for a yearly training.
- participate in bi-monthly virtual training sessions.
- implement a service-learning project or internship at school!
The YLA program runs from June 1 - April 30th of each year. Interested participants make a 1-year extra-curricular commitment to the YLA learning community during this time. Service projects and internships take place throughout students' junior or senior year.