Phase Three
Grades 10 - 12: Leadership Development (LD)

The Leadership Development phase of the Rainier Scholars program begins when students are sophomores in high school and continues until high school graduation.

There are three components to Leadership Development:

• Leadership Development retreats
• College planning and career guidance 
• Internships and opportunities 

Leadership Retreats

All Rainier Scholars must attend five leadership retreats. Retreats are held five times a year, often at local colleges or schools. Students discuss effective and ethical leadership as they learn about their own leadership abilities, preparing them for leadership roles in their schools and communities. Retreats are held on the following topics:
 
Introduction to Leadership
Drawing heavily on John Gardner’s book On Leadership, this retreat introduces students to the tasks and attributes of effective leaders, as well as the role of ethics in leadership.

Obstacles of Leadership
Students begin by brainstorming a list of the challenges they’ve faced in leadership and then study the ways other leaders have overcome these difficulties, from organization restructuring to systems of accountability.  

Styles and Skills of Leadership
This retreat leads the students in an in-depth exploration of successful leaders’ styles as they learn more about their own leadership styles, strengths and weaknesses and practice essential leadership skills. 
    
Rights and Responsibilities
Designed to help students understand the rights and responsibilities of each level of a democratic society so that students understand the system in which they will be leaders. 

Ethics and Realities of Leadership
The final retreat recognizes that our students, now steeped in leadership theory and fact, must have practical application of all they’ve learned.  Students draw on their moral compasses and societal expectations as they attempt to come up with effective and ethical solutions to today’s problems.   
 

College Planning and Career Guidance
As students enter 11th grade, our Leadership Development phase focuses on preparation for the college admissions process. Students receive personalized college counseling including SAT prep courses and opportunities to meet with college admissions representatives. Scholars are also invited to participate in workshops on a range of topics, including:

• Application case studies
• College essays
• Financial aid

Rainier Scholars is committed to ensuring that students have the opportunity to visit college campuses. To date, our students have been selected to participate in highly selective recruitment programs at Amherst College, Colorado College, Dartmouth College, Macalester College, Mt. Holyoke College, Occidental College, Pitzer College, Smith College and Williams College.

 Internships and Opportunities
Each year, Rainier Scholars partners with businesses and organizations  to provide the students with paid summer internships in a variety of fields. In order to be eligible for these internships students must have a 3.0 GPA and be in good standing with Rainier Scholars. Students and sites/mentors are evaluated at the middle and end of the summer.  A sampling of businesses and organizations that have hired our interns includes:

Aegis Living
Black, Lowe and Graham LLC
Seattle Children's Hospital
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Epiphany School
K & L Gates LLP
Karr Tuttle Campbell
King County Television Network
Knowledge Points
League of Education Voters
Lenny Wilkens Foundation
Microsoft
NeighborCare
Powerful Schools
Preg, O’Donnell, and Gillette
Seattle-Northwest Securities Corporation
Swedish Hospital
Teens in Public Service (TIPS)
Washington State Hospital Association