I am a Junior. How do I become a participant?

First, complete the Junior Application. Include your parent/guardian and school administrator signatures within the stated timeframe.

I am a Senior. How do I become a participant?

You must successfully complete the Junior Leaders program, commit to becoming actively involved during your senior year in high school, and complete the Senior Application.
Individual requests are considered if you have not participated in the Junior Leaders Program.

Program Curriculum

• Personal Development—“Personal Choice” is the focus while students learn about Etiquette, Human metrics, Public Speaking and Networking Skills. Students also learn to appreciate academic, social, economic, geographic and racial diversity as they met students who represent 20 high schools in Jackson, Johnson and Wyandotte Counties.

• Personal Development—also includes: Interview techniques and development of personal marketing skills.  Students complete their resume and cover letter and learn to use their business card (which includes GPA to show the importance). 

• Personal Choice—Students meet with two audiences to learn the importance of personal choices.  Students meet with prisoners, looking at 10 years to life before meeting with officers at Fort Leavenworth to discuss choices they have made in their lives.  Powerful meetings.  A drug/alcohol detox center will be visited as well.

• College Preparation—20 colleges meet to discuss application process, scholarships, student loans, and SAT and ACT testing preparation.  Seniors will spend additional time learning how to search and apply for scholarships, and student loans.

• Career Exploration—At least 40 businesses meet with students to discuss business and skills needed by employees.  A sample of businesses participating include Cerner, Sprint, GM, BPU, DST, KPMG, Country Club Bank, Kansas City Missouri City Hall & Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Johnson County, Black & Veatch, Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway, Platform Advertising, H&R Block, and Time Warner.  Businesses provide “mock interviews to all students” and share group tips for improvement.

• Entrepreneurship—Business owners share information, start-up costs, personal risk, employee issues, challenges faced and benefits of being your own boss.  Monopoly is played whereby students develop business plan, meet to discuss zoning issues with city administrators; discuss business loans with bankers—receive rejection and learn to strategize, discuss personal financial needs when starting your own business 

• Economics—Planning/zoning/financial issues faced by businesses and entrepreneurs.  Students begin to understand the value of tax credits, star bonds—economic incentives and what they mean to community development.  Developers, architects and city officials share projects in KCMO, KCK, Johnson County and Independence.  This is seniors only.

• Finances—Federal Reserve Bank works with students as they work on personal budgets, discuss credit card debt, college loans, and investments. This is for seniors only.

• Community and Cultural Awareness—Learning about own community and surrounding communities within the Kansas City metropolitan area

• Local and state government--Understanding the importance of registering and voting, working campaigns, running for office (while in high school and college) Students will travel to Jefferson City, MO and Topeka, KS to meet personally with their state legislators.  Missouri students also meet with State Supreme Court Justice.

• Understanding the Law—Honorable Victor Howard, Missouri Court of Appeals and Dan Crabtree, Stinson Morrison Hecker, LLP explain the workings of law as students present their case.  This is for seniors only.

• Social Services—Introduction of needs in KCMO, KCK and Johnson County;     students visit agencies to see first hand the needs within their communities.

• Metro Art Tour—Includes a scavenger hunt in downtown Kansas City, tour of the Kansas City Art Institute, Hallmark Cards, Nelson-Atkins Museum and KCMO downtown entertainment center.  Students learn “how to” enjoy a museum.

• Project Based Learning—Using this model, 20/20 Olympics was established for students to identify their project, create business plan, design marketing plan and develop a project that has an impact within their school and community. 

Projects Examples:  Project Pregnancy; Student Dropout and Website designed for Daniel Gilyeat—Extreme Home Makeover recipient and Iraq veteran who lost his leg. The website provides schools, organizations, hospitals and veteran groups to contact Daniel for speaking engagements.