Elevate Leadership Program

Elevate is a multi-day program for incoming William & Mary students ready to grow as leaders who enact positive change. Elevate empowers participants to reflect on their values, strengthen their leadership potential, and build meaningful connections through interactive sessions, small group discussions, and community-building activities. Students will develop the self-awareness, relational skills, and sense of purpose needed to lead with integrity and make a lasting impact at W&M and beyond.

Elevate Leadership Program will be held Summer 2026, specific dates TBD. This program is not a substitute or alternative to New Student Orientation in August.

Applications for Elevate will be available in late Spring 2026; selected participants will be notified in June 2026. In the application you'll tell us a little bit about yourself and answer a few short answer questions (no longer than 200 words each).

Program details
Why should I participate in Elevate? Engage in campus life early by making friends, and learning about involvement opportunities at W&M Connect with other incoming students dedicated to enhancing community and developing their own capacity for leadership Strengthen self-awareness, relational skills, and sense of purpose Jumpstart your ability to make an impact as a student leader at W&M Gain confidence to lead with integrity at W&M and beyond
How will we spend our time? Through a variety of activities and workshops, participants will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of themselves as a leader and how to effectively work with others towards a better future. Topics/sessions include: Strengths Based Leadership How to have meaningful conversations Building resilience as a leader Emotionally Intelligent Leadership How values and identities help you lead How to find meaningful involvement on campus We will also have social activities to build community and get to know other W&M leaders
Where will we stay and eat? Participants will stay in an on-campus residence hall, in a double-occupancy room with another participant. Meals will be provided by dining services on campus. Housing and meals are included in the overall cost.
How much does this program cost? Pricing for 2026 will be announced when the application is available. The registration fee includes food, housing, activities, and participant materials. Payments are processed on-line; instructions on how to register and pay the registration fee will be shared with selected applicants in June. If you would like to be considered for a need-based scholarship, please indicate so on the application.
When does Elevate start and end? TBD
If I don't participate in Elevate, are there other ways for me to get involved? YES!!!! There are so many ways to get involved on campus and to grow as a leader, Elevate is only one of those opportunities. Here are a few suggestions of ways you can get involved aside from Elevate: During New Student Orientation in both the Fall and Spring, there will be Student Organizations and Activities Fairs where interested students can meet representatives from over 250 of the Recognized Student Organizations on campus. You can sign up to receive Leadership Compass, which is a monthly newsletter focused on connecting students to various resources and opportunities designed to enhance their leader development. Student Leadership Development will host monthly Leadership Lunch and Learns, which are workshops on a variety of topics. Keep an eye out on TribeLink events for details. Student Leadership Development offers another leader development program called Leadership Accelerator in the Fall semester. This two-day program is open to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.
Who can apply for Elevate? Students who have committed and deposited to joining the W&M community in Fall 2026.

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