Try These Leadership Opportunities for High School Students
Looking for leadership opportunities for high school students? Take a look at our comprehensive list of leadership opportunities at St. Agnes Academy and beyond.
Written by Alexandra Wong ‘26
High school isn’t just about academics, sports, or socializing – it is also an opportunity for students to develop the leadership skills necessary for adulthood.
Whether you’re passionate about making a difference, organizing events, or empowering your community, there are many leadership opportunities for high school students to help develop your interests and hone your leadership skills.
From student council to clubs to sports teams to workshops, there are countless ways to step into leadership roles and start making an impact in your community. Discover some of the many leadership opportunities offered during your time at St. Agnes Academy!
Leadership Opportunities for High School Students at St. Agnes
How can you grow personally while making a difference in the St. Agnes community? Find your next leadership opportunity!
Campus Ministry
Campus Ministry is a faith-based community at St. Agnes and one of the biggest organizations on the St. Agnes campus. Campus Ministry is open to all grades (9th-12th), where students come together to serve and minister to one another and the St. Agnes community.
Students attend small groups, prayers, and monthly meetings. They also take charge in leading daily prayers, serving during mass, and celebrating our Dominican Catholic heritage throughout the year.
Being involved in Campus Ministry is an amazing opportunity for students to grow in their faith and get involved on campus as early as a freshman!
DPT
The Dominican Preaching Team is one of St. Agnes’ key leadership groups on campus, involved in various events on campus critical to our Dominican Catholic identity. Students may apply to join the Dominican Preaching Team as rising juniors involved in Campus Ministry.
DPT leaders attend training as peer ministers and serve the St. Agnes community as student leaders. They organize and lead grade-level retreats, coordinate Campus Ministry programming, and assist in school-wide masses throughout the year.
This two-year experience offers juniors and seniors at St. Agnes the chance to lead with their faith on campus and serve as exemplary models for student ministers for the St. Agnes student body.
Student Council
Student Council (StuCo) at St. Agnes is the largest student-led organization on St. Agnes’ campus. Students apply to StuCo as delegates and are placed in one of six committees:
- Philanthropy
- Energy & Environment
- Faculty & Staff
- Drugs-Alcohol-Safety-Health
- Pride & Patriotism
- Communications & Media
Each committee is tasked with different goals for supporting our school and student body. Students may also run to be their class President and Vice President. At the end of their sophomore year, junior delegates also have the opportunity to apply for Executive leadership positions on Student Council, as co-chairs and chairs of committees, Secretary, Historian, etc.
Involvement in Student Council at St. Agnes allows students to become involved members on campus and contribute to all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into St. Agnes events!
Clubs
Club membership and participation are some of the best ways to get involved in the St. Agnes community. Most clubs have open membership, and students can sign up for as many clubs as they want!
Each August, right as the school year starts, St. Agnes hosts “Club Carnival” for students to see what clubs are available and for clubs to recruit new members. Some clubs on campus include Key Club, Model United Nations, and STEM Club. A handful of clubs are also hosted by St. Agnes’ brother school, Strake Jesuit.
While most clubs on campus have open membership, there are a few opportunities that are application-based or have club requirements. These include National Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, and National English Honor Society.
Becoming a part of club leadership at St. Agnes or being active in a club is an amazing way to become a leader on campus for something you enjoy!
Introduction to Leadership Class
The “Introduction to Leadership” class offered by St. Agnes gives students a basic introduction to leadership, honing in on what it means to be a good leader. The course focuses on these areas:
- The practice of being a good leader
- Understanding leadership
- Recognizing leadership traits
- Utilizing strengths
- Various leadership philosophies and styles
- Leadership skills
- Obstacles one might face as a leader
- Ethics in leadership
Students taking this course have the opportunity to assess and grow their leadership performance and learn the foundation for becoming an effective leader! This course is offered to all grades for 0.5 Communications credit. It is one semester.
Leadership Opportunities Outside of St. Agnes
Finding leadership opportunities in high school is not restricted to what your school offers. There are various opportunities for students to develop leadership skills outside of school to benefit the community. Here are a few ideas!
Community Service
One of the most impactful ways to become a leader is by getting involved in community service! Volunteering provides students with an opportunity to connect with others, demonstrate commitment, and actively contribute to making a positive change in their communities.
By engaging in service learning – whether through local non-profits or youth leadership programs – you can gain valuable experience in problem-solving, communication, and teamwork. These skills are essential for leadership.
Some local opportunities for volunteering and being active in the Houston area include:
- Houston Food Bank
- The Beacon
- Kids’ Meals
- Theater Under the Stars: The River Performing and Visual Arts Center
- Nehemiah Center
- Family Point Resources
- Christian Community Service Center
- Agape Development
- Halo House
Kelley Women’s Leadership Institute
Looking for leadership opportunities outside of Houston throughout the United States? The Kelley Women’s Leadership Institute at Indiana University is a program for young people interested in business.
Through the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, young high school women are introduced to IU and business careers during a day at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.
During this program, participants attend workshops, meet Kelley alumni and staff, delve into a business case project, and develop their leadership and communication skills either on campus for a day or virtually over the spread of a few days. This leadership opportunity is an ideal program students can use on their path to a business career!
Sadie Nash Leadership Project
Is your family considering moving out of state? The Sadie Nash Leadership Project Summer Institute is an award-winning leadership program for young women in high school in New York City or Newark. Participants have the chance to build their own leadership skills through field trips, workshops, and panels with guest speakers and leaders from the New York City area.
Students will meet accomplished women like elected officials, business owners, and artists during their time at Sadie Nash Summer Institute. Applications for Summer Institute 2025 open in January, and the final deadline is mid-April.
Bank of America Student Leadership Program
The Bank of America Student Leaders program is a summer program internship opportunity for high school juniors and seniors hoping to serve their communities.
Students have the opportunity to gain firsthand experience in an eight-week paid internship at a local nonprofit organization that partners with the Bank of America. Some of these organizations may include the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Habitat for Humanity.
This program gives juniors and seniors the chance to learn how nonprofits and businesses work to support their communities and the leadership skills necessary to create impactful change. At the conclusion of the course, participants meet in a one-week summit in Washington D.C.
The application for this program includes an online application, a letter of recommendation, and an optional resume. The application closes on January 15, 2025.
How Do I Become a Leader While at St. Agnes?
High school is the best time for you to develop your skills as a leader and discover what kind of leader you are. Involvement at St. Agnes through Campus Ministry, DPT, Student Council, and our various clubs offered are just a few ways to get involved in leadership at school.
Leadership opportunities are about the chance to influence, inspire, and drive change within an organization or community. Through the various leadership opportunities offered at St. Agnes and outside of St. Agnes, students will learn the meaning of taking responsibility, making decisions, and helping others to reach their potential as leaders.
By cultivating skills like communication and problem-solving during their high school years, students will be prepared to step into leadership roles with confidence!
Seeking out leadership opportunities can be an amazing way to grow as a leader. As you seize these opportunities – whether in school or out of school – you are taking the opportunity to create positive change within the organization or group you are serving!
To continue exploring opportunities for leadership at St. Agnes, talk to our Student Support team to discover more ways to grow your leadership skills!
