MYLead has been partnering with high schools across Michigan to inspire young leaders since 2003!
MYLead serves as a catalyst for inspiring minds to leap ahead in their leadership journey. We provide access to captivating speakers, timeless leadership principles, high-energy inspiring role models, interactive team building, and incredible peers from across the state. These combine for a remarkable, unforgettable experience.
Recognized by past participants as a key transitional point in their leadership journey, MYLead programs are well-loved, well-tested, and very effective. 99.9% of participants recommend MYLead to a friend.
MYLead has been offering in-person conferences exclusively for high school sophomores since 2003. In 2020, MYLead hosted the first-ever Virtual Summit. Understanding that this year poses unique challenges and knowing that the Summit received such positive feedback, we have now ultimately decided to go fully virtual in 2021, with two date options for Virtual Summits. No in-person option will be offered this year but we look forward to resuming them in future years!
Virtual Summit 1: May 21-23, 2021
Virtual Summit 2: June 4-6, 2021
MYLead is typically limited to high school sophomores only. This year, juniors that were nominated and unable to attend in 2020 are also welcome.
Between the two events, MYLead is anticipating over 500 young leaders from across the state for MYLead 2021.
Schools that send students to MYLead report that students return to school:
- Citing MYLead as the best experience from their summer
- Recognizing MYLead as a catapult to what comes next on their leadership journey.
- Exhibiting an obvious increase in self-confidence and self-worth.
- Showing a deeper understanding and appreciation of their leadership style and how to use it effectively when working with peers.
- Freshly inspired and motivated to get more involved.
- Actively ready to speak up and participate in problem-solving both in the classroom and out.
- Ready to take on new challenges that may have previously been outside their comfort zone.
- Excited to help recruit and champion more students to attend the following year.
Nomination Process
The nomination process is simple:
- Select the sophomore(s) you would like to nominate
- Click “Nominate Now” and use the login credentials received via email to log into the website
- Enter basic information about the nominee(s) you have selected
- Congratulate each student that has been nominated, letting them know they will receive an email from MYLead about registration within 2 weeks.
MYLead will email student(s) with details about student registration. As the school administrator, you and the student’s parents will be copied on all emails sent to students.
In the spring, MYLead will invoice schools, if applicable. MYLead covers the cost of the first student from every school to attend completely free of charge. Each additional nominee will be billed at $29 for virtual summit attendance.
If you have questions about nominating a sophomore for MYLead, please see answers to the most frequently asked questions below. You are also welcome to see FAQs on the Virtual Summit page as well. If your questions are not addressed, email recruitment@mylead.org or leave us a message at (888) 269-4075. One of our volunteers will be more than happy to connect.
I would like to nominate, but I don’t have login credentials. How can I get them?
If you know you would like to nominate, but have not previously worked with MYLead, or you just can’t find the email previously sent to you with your login information, email recruitment@mylead.org. If you reach out via email, please include your full name and the name of your school.
I am not associated with a school but do work in my community with an organization that provides education and resources for teens. Am I able to nominate sophomores to attend MYLead?
MYLead would be happy to learn more about the organization you work with to determine the best course of action. Please email recrutiment@mylead.org.
Who should I nominate?
The only criteria MYLead has is that the sophomores you pick exhibit a positive attitude, be interested in developing themselves, and exhibit leadership potential in some way.
The students that seem to benefit from MYLead the most are the ones that aren’t necessarily the president or captain of everything already. They are the ones that are on the cusp of something great, and just need that boost of confidence so that they can achieve more.
How many sophomores can I nominate for MYLead 2021?
In addition to the Juniors already nominated for MYLead 2020 (if any), you can nominate up to 10 additional sophomores to attend in 2021.
What happens to the juniors I nominated in 2020?
All individuals nominated for MYLead 2020 are eligible to attend virtually in 2021. They will receive information from the recruitment team in January regarding registration.
If an individual is no longer able to attend, you are welcome to cancel their nomination in the system before then. You are able to replace a canceled junior’s nomination with an additional sophomore if preferred.
Why does MYLead typically limit participation to sophomores nominated by their school to attend? And why is MYLead open to juniors this year?
MYLead uses the school nomination process to verify that individuals attending are in the right frame of mind to receive new information, show strong leadership potential, and will be likely to apply the concepts they learn to impact their school and community upon their return.
MYLead typically limits conference attendance to sophomores because of the critical juncture students are at in defining their view of the world and the role they will play in it. At this point, young leaders are sponges for new ideas and information. Participants also have the benefit of two remaining years of high school to apply what they learn and to further develop the leadership skills and knowledge gained through the MYLead experience.
This year, MYLead is open to juniors that were previously nominated for MYLead 2020. When making the difficult decision to cancel the conferences last year, we felt it was important to honor the promise that schools made to their young leaders. We know the impact that attending MYLead can have, and with so much in flux for these young people, it seemed more important than ever to make the opportunity available for them to connect with incredible peers in a fun, safe, and engaging environment.
Why only a select number of sophomores per high school?
Part of the MYLead experience is maximizing exposure to new ideas, and developing leadership and critical thinking skills in a totally fresh learning environment, away from familiar surroundings, routine experiences, and established peer groups and peer pressures. Bringing together a limited number of sophomores per school brings individuals, not social groupings, to the conference.
How does payment work for non-free students?
MYLead will send an invoice to the school in the spring.
It is the school’s responsibility to determine how payment will be made. Each school approaches it differently. Some have funds reserved in their budget, others ask the PTO or a community organization to cover the registration fees, and others have the nominated students/guardians submit payment directly.
Please determine how your school will cover the registration fees and inform each nominee accordingly.
Does MYLead have a resource kit to assist with advertising to students?
Yes. You can use the Example Application to solicit interest from sophomores and then select among those that apply.
MYLead is in the process of developing additional resources and they will be added here once available. You can email recruitment@mylead.org for more information.
What if a student is no longer able to attend?
If circumstances arise that prevent a student from attending the conference, you are welcome to log into the website to cancel the nomination and submit a replacement nominee. Or, you can contact recruitment@mylead.org and the recruitment directors will assist you with the process.
What schools nominated sophomores for MYLead 2020?
Academy of Sacred Heart
AGBU Alex-Marie Manoogian School
Aim High School
Airport Senior High School
Algonac High School
All Saints Central School
Almont High School
Anchor Bay High School
Armada High School
Athens High School
Bad Axe High School
Battle Creek Area Math & Science Center
Bay City Central High School
Bay City Western High School
Beaver Island Community School
Berkley High School
Big Rapids High School
Bishop Foley Catholic High School
Black River Public School
Bloomfield Hills High School
Boyne Falls Public School
Brandywine Senior High School
Brother Rice High School
Byron Area High School
Byron Center High School
Cabrini High School
Caledonia High School
Calvin Christian High School
Canton High School
Caro High School
Carrollton High School
Carsonville-Port Sanilac High School
Cass City Jr. and Sr. High School
Center Line High School
Central Lake Public Schools
Central Montcalm High School
Charlotte Senior High School
Chelsea High School
Chippewa Hills High School
Churchill High School
Clarkston High School
Clinton High School
Clintondale High School
Columbia Central High School
Comstock Park High School
Concord High School
Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School
Crestwood High School
Dakota High School
Davison High School
Dearborn High School
Detroit Catholic Central
Detroit Country Day Upper School
DeWitt High School
Divine Child High School
Early College Alliance
East Grand Rapids High School
Eaton Rapids Senior High School
Fordson High School
Forest Hills Central High School
Forest Hills Eastern High School
Frankenmuth High School
Fraser High School
Freeland High School
Garber High School
Gaylord High School
Goodrich High School
Grandville High School
Gull Lake High School
H.H. Dow High School
Harbor Beach Community High School
Hartford High School
Heritage High School
Hillsdale Academy
Holly High School
Houghton Central High School
Hudson Area High School
Imlay City High School
Innovation Central High School
International Academy – Okma Campus
International Academy East
International Academy West
Iron Mountain High School
JCC/LISD Academy
Johannesburg-Lewiston High School
John Glenn High School
Kalamazoo Math And Science Center
Kenowa Hills High School
Kensington Woods Schools
Kingsford High School
Laingsburg High School
Lake City High School
Lake Orion Community High School
Lake Shore High School
Lakeland High School
Laker High School
Lakeview High School
Lakewood High School
Lamphere High School
Lapeer High School
Lawrence Jr/Sr High School
Lincoln Park High School
Lincoln Senior High School
Lowell Senior High School
Lutheran High School NW
Lutheran High School-North
Macomb Math Science Technology Center
Manchester High School
Manistee Catholic Central Schools
Manistee High School
Manistique High School
Meridian Early College High School
Merrill High School
Merritt Academy
Michigan Youth Leadership
Milford High School
Millington High School
Monroe County Middle College
Morley Stanwood High School
Morrice Area High School
Mt. Pleasant Senior High School
Niles Extended School Community
Northview High School
Novi Christian Academy
Oak Park High School
Oakland Opportunity Academy
Onsted Community High School
Osborn High School
Otsego High School
Our Lady of the Lakes School
Owosso High School
Oxford Schools Early College
Peck Jr./Sr. High School
Pinconning High School
Plymouth High School
Port Huron High School
Port Huron Northern High School
Portage Central High School
Portage Northern High School
Potters House High School
Potterville High School
Powers Catholic High School
Quincy High School
Redford Union High School
Richmond Community High School
Rochester High School
Sacred Heart Academy
Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy
Salem High School
Saline High School
Sand Creek High School
Sandusky Senior High School
Shrine High School
South Lake High School
Southgate Anderson High School
St. Charles Community High School
St. Joseph High School
St. Mary Catholic Central
St. Philip Catholic Central High School
Star International Academy
Stoney Creek High School
Sturgis High School
Swartz Creek High School
Tawas Area High School
Tekonsha Senior High School
The Valley School
Thornapple Kellogg High School
University High School Academy
University of Detroit Jesuit
Vandercook Lake High School
Vassar Senior High School
Walled Lake Northern High School
Walled Lake Western High School
West Catholic High School
West Michigan Lutheran High School
Western High School
White Cloud High School
Whiteford High School
Whitmore Lake High School
Woodhaven High School
Yale Senior High School
Ypsilanti Community High School